A MAN accused of sexually abusing a girl over a ten-year period has admitted viewing indecent images of children – but denies ever touching a child.
Richard Louis Romeril was giving evidence on the fourth day of his Assize jury trial in the Royal Court. He denies 16 offences, including attempted rape, sexual touching without consent, forcing someone to engage in a sex act and indecent assault.
The 49-year-old had already pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children, and Advocate Mike Preston, defending, asked him: “Why haven’t you pleaded guilty to assaulting the girl?”
He replied: “Because I haven’t done it.”
The advocate asked: “Are you sexually interested in her?”
He said: “No. I’ve never touched her.”
The jury had already heard that 11 pairs of children’s underwear were found under the mattress in Mr Romeril’s bedroom, and Advocate Preston asked him: “Did you know they were there?”
He said: “No, I did not.”
The advocate added: “There was a white bra on your bed. Why was that there?”
He replied: “I don’t know.”
Mr Romeril had been due to be reinterviewed by the police on 8 September last year but failed to turn up and was found hiding in woods in St Brelade.
Advocate Preston asked him: “Why did you go to the woods?”
He said: “I was completely devastated. I was at rock bottom.”
Asked how the allegations had affected him, he said: “They have completely destroyed me.”
Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood, prosecuting, then asked Mr Romeril: “Have you told the jury the truth?”
He replied: “Yes, I have.”
She asked him why the girl would have made up the allegations.
He said: “I honestly don’t know.”
The case is expected to last two more days. The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, is presiding.
