A PENSIONER accused of sexually abusing a boy and girl in Cirencester in the 1960s and 70s told a jury he had never touched a child inappropriately in his life.

Paul John Evans, of Stepstairs Court, Watermoor in Cirencester, is standing trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of abusing a girl aged five to eight between 1968 and 1977, and a boy of a similar age between 1971 and 1977.

Mr Evans, 76, has been charged with 21 historic child sexual abuse offences – 12 are of indecent assault of the girl, one is of gross indecency with her, five are of indecently assaulting the boy and three are of indecency with him.

It is alleged that Mr Evans exposed and touched himself in front of the children, touched them and made them touch him, all on multiple occasions.

The defendant worked in a scrap yard in Love Lane and lived in St Michael’s Road and Cranhams Lane in Cirencester during the late 60s and 70s.

Today, jurors heard that Mr Evans held previous convictions of indecently assaulting three nine-year-old children on two separate occasions.

To ensure a fair trial, a defendant’s previous convictions are not usually disclosed to jurors, but the judge, Recorder P.R. Dunkels QC, decided to make the offences known after prosecutor Robert Duval argued that the defence’s case may be painting a ‘false impression’ of Mr Evans’ propensity to be sexually attracted to young children.

Mr Evans pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl in November 1954 at the Cirencester juvenile court when he was 15. It was said that he abused the girl after taking her from her home to a disused air raid shelter.

Three years later, when he was 18, he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting two nine-year-old girls in September 1958, at Cirencester Magistrates’ Court.

Judge Dunkels told the jury that Mr Evans’ previous convictions did not provide an easy answer for a verdict but that the jury may find it helpful “if it shows he has a tendency to behave in a way”.

During cross examination, when asked by Mr Duval if he had ever sexually abused the alleged victims in this trial, Evans replied: “No, no, no”.

He repeatedly told the prosecutor, “I would never touch them”.

He denied ever taking the two alleged victims in his van to a derelict airfield and a rubbish tip to abuse them.

But in an interview by police in May last year, he admitted that he took the two children in a grey van “only once”.

In his interview, he also said of the female alleged victim: “Is she on something or what that’s made her all paranoid?”

Speaking of his previous convictions, Mr Evans said that he was “made to plead guilty” by police.

Mr Duval told Mr Evans: “I suggest the reason people are making allegations is because they are true. They form part of a continuing interest you had sexually with children, and they continue certainly through to your late 20s and 30s.”

Mr Evans replied: “I swear I am telling the truth. I had no interest (in children) when I was younger.”

Jurors also heard Mr Evans’ stepdaughter Julie Lewis speak in support of his character.

She said: “He would come home from work and make tea for me. He used to read me bedtime stories. He was the kindest man.”

She said she had no concerns about being alone with him.

Closing statements will be made by prosecutor Mr Duval and defence lawyer Gareth James tomorrow.

A jury of four women and eight men will then be asked to consider whether Evans is guilty or not guilty of the charges.