Newbury lorry driver Chris Terry denies 10 counts of sexually assaulting children

A LONG distance lorry driver lured a child into his cab to sexually abuse her, a jury has heard.

The HGV driver also groped another child in her own home, Reading Crown Court was told.

In the dock was 72-year-old Chris Terry, of Coachmans Court, Newbury, who denies 10 counts of sexually assaulting children.

Simon Foster, opening the case for the prosecution on Tuesday, April 22, said one of the alleged victims contacted police after seeing a report in Newburytoday about Mr Terry’s overseas humanitarian trips in aid of Ukranian children in 2022.

Mr Terry faces 10 counts of historic sexual assault on girls aged three to 15 years.

The alleged offences were said to have taken place over the years in Ufton Nervet, Tilehurst and Reading.

Mr Foster said Mr Terry gained access to the children and would encourage one of them into his HGV cab, where he sat her on his lap while driving.

He added: “There she was, holding on to the wheel of this juggernaut hoping it wouldn’t crash while he would be fondling her.

“She could feel his erect penis where she sat, begging him to stop.”

Mr Terry also sexually assaulted another child, thrusting himself against her while he rubbed her genitals, breathing heavily in her ear all the while, it is alleged.

Eventually, the court heard, the girls contacted one another and discovered they had both been abused by Mr Terry.

One of the complainants was aged 15 when Mr Terry “undid his jeans and got his penis out and leaned over to grab her hand”, jurors were told.

But by now she was old enough to realise what was happening was wrong; she threatened to tell her family and Mr Terry desisted, the court heard.

Mr Foster said both complainants reported the alleged abuse separately.

However one of them did so after she read the Newburytoday report about Mr Foster’s overseas mission on behalf of Ukranian children.

Mr Foster went on: “Much that happens in life, one can shrug off, put behind one or forget.

“But sexual abuse?

“That’s not something that ever leaves you.”

Mr Terry was arrested and interviewed with a solicitor present, the jury of seven men and five women were told.

Mr Foster said: “The defendant said that what these girls said had happened, didn’t happen.

“I hope it’s a reasonable conclusion to say that somebody must be telling lies.

“You are going to be judging whether these complainants are telling the truth or not – it’s really as simple as that.

“You are the judges of fact in this case, as His Honour has already told you.”

The defence has yet to make its case.

Meanwhile the trial, expected to conclude next week, continues.