A FORMER Oxfordshire Scout leader has gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting a boy more than 40 years ago.
Roger Franklin, 66, of Ashdene Road, Bicester, denies four counts of indecent assault between March 1968 and March 1970.
The complainant, who is now in his 50s and reported the matter to police in February, gave evidence at Oxford Crown Court yesterday and accused Franklin of abusing him over a number of years. The man, who cannot be identified, told the jury: “I knew it wasn’t a normal thing for a child to have to sleep in someone else'’s bed.
“I kind of thought it was my fault because I had allowed him, I thought it was my fault for allowing it to happen.”
Jonathan Coode, defending, said the complainant had told jurors a number of things which were not in his police statement.
He asked the man to explain why he told police one aspect of the abuse took place on one occasion and then told jurors it happened “regularly”.
The complainant replied: “No, I cannot explain.”
Jurors were earlier told Franklin has seven previous convictions for indecently assaulting boys under 13 in 1964 and 1968.
The trial continues.
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