Woman, 44, denies indecently assaulting teenage girl in 1990s
A catering company boss accused of indecently assaulting a teenage girl told a court: “It never happened”.
Deborah Evans, 44, who owns and runs Cardiff Cuisine Catering, denies 11 counts of indecent assault and she is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
Her barrister Claire Pickthall asked: “Is there any reason you can think of why [the complainant] has made these allegations against you?”
Speaking from the witness box, Evans, of Deere Place in Ely, Cardiff, replied: “No idea.”
Cardiff Crown Court heard the alleged assaults took place in the late 1990s when the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was under 16.
Ms Pickthall asked: “She says you have sexually assaulted her. Have you ever sexually assaulted her?”
Evans replied: “No haven’t.”
The court heard the defendant was taken to Cardiff Bay Police Station after being arrested, and told officers: “I know what this is about.”
Asked to clarify what she meant, the defendant I said: “I believed she had made this up.”
During cross-examination, prosecutor Michael Hammett asked: “What did you feel towards her?”
Evans replied “nothing” and when questioned about her role in the girl’s life, she answered: “I was trying to look out for her.”
The prosecutor asked: “Is it the case that your relationship with [her] was closer than you are prepared to admit?”
Evans said that was not the case. Asked if she found the girl attractive, she replied: “No”.
Mr Hammett asked: “You systematically sexually abused her, didn’t you?”
The defendant responded: “No I didn’t.”
The trial continues.