A young girl told police an Invercargill man used to watch her sleep before molesting her, a court has heard.
The Crown has charged the 56-year-old with 12 counts of doing an indecent act on a young person, assault with intent to commit sexual violation and two charges of indecent assault.
In court, the jury were shown the video of a police interview with the 14-year-old complainant, during which she described initially getting on with the defendant.
She then said his behaviour changed and he began looking in on her at night.
"Sometimes I’d wake up and he’d be at the end of my bed watching me sleep," she told police.
She recalled the first time, when he took all his clothes off, got into bed with her and tried to take her clothes off, before violating her.
Frozen and afraid, she said she eventually moved to push him away, shouting for him to get out.
"He couldn’t talk, he was drunk, he looked angry," she said.
In the video, the girl became emotional while telling the interviewer he threatened her with violence if she ever told anyone what happened.
She also said that he also grabbed her inappropriately around the house, up to five times a week.
The court is yet to hear from the defence, but the trial will continue today when the 14-year-old is set to continue in the witness box.
ella.scott-fleming@odt.co.nz , PIJF court reporter
