A former gardener from Teignmouth has denied abusing a young girl in his van while taking her to work with him.

Rodney Howliston, aged 65, is alleged to have touched the girl repeatedly while alone with her or when babysitting at her mother’s home in South Devon.

The girl, now aged 17, has told Exeter Crown Court how the abuse started when she was about six and continued for several years in the 2000s and early 2010s.

She said that on one occasion he grabbed her head and made her perform a sex act on him as he stood naked in front of her.

Howliston, of Stokeinteignhead, near Teignmouth, denies rape, five counts of assault by penetration, and one of inciting a child to take part in sexual activity.

Mr Richard Crabb, prosecuting, said Howliston had told the girl to remain silent at the time and she had done so until 2014 when she told her aunt in a Facebook message.

She went on to tell a school friend the next year but the police were only called in after she told a worker at a youth club and a teacher at school in early 2016.

Mr Crabb said the abuse started when the girl was about six and carried on for around six years. It often took place bedrooms or bathrooms at her home when Howliston was looking after her.

He said: ‘He would tell her to keep quiet. This pattern of behaviour was repeated over years at her house or in his van when he was working as a gardener. He told her not to tell her mother and gave her small sums of money.

‘On one occasion when he touched her in his van he told her that next time she went to work with him she should not wear any underwear.’

Howliston was interviewed by police about the allegations and denied them. He said: ‘No, I do not agree with that. I’m not saying it is all lies. There are things I don’t recall.’

Mr Crabb said Howliston told police there had been occasions when he had been naked in the girl’s presence but denied any deliberate sexual contact.