Trial hears of historic child rape
A MAN violently raped a child after threatening her family if she did not comply, a court has heard.
Anthony Shackell is also accused of raping another girl and of sexually assaulting a five-year-old.
In all, the 80-year-old, of Mey Close, Calcot, denies 16 counts of rape, sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching involving girls.
Charles Ward-Jackson, opening the case for the prosecution at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, April 16, said: “In a sentence, this case is about what’s called historic sexual abuse.”
Many alleged instances had not resulted in criminal charges otherwise there could have been around 40 counts on the indictment, the jury heard.
Mr Ward-Jackson added that Mr Shackell gained access to one victim and initially would touch her breasts over her clothing.
That progressed to serious, penetrative sexual assaults, the court heard.
Mr Ward-Jackson told jurors: “She complained, even though she was a child.
“He said it was her fault for letting him do it.”
He went on: “All of this was a lead up to much more serious offending.
“He told her he wanted to have sex with her.
“Naturally, she declined this rather unappetising prospect.”
Mr Shackell then threatened to rape a member of her family if she did not comply, the court heard.
Mr Ward-Jackson said: “He pulled off her knickers, pushed her on the bed, got on top of her and raped her.
“She was struggling and tried to push him off… although she was crying he claimed she enjoyed it.”
Mr Shackell behaved in a similar manner to another girl, raping her repeatedly, the court heard.
Eventually, the two victims contacted one another and went to the police, although an initial investigation resulted in no further action at the time.
But then Mr Shackell is alleged to have sexually assaulted a fiveyear-old, who told her father what had happened.
The father reported the matter to police – who then reopened the case, resulting in the charges Mr Shackell now faces.
Mr Ward-Jackson said that, when interviewed by detectives, Mr Shackell denied any sexual contact with any of the girls.
He added: “As far as he was concerned they had put their heads together.”
One of the complainants, now an adult, told the jury of six men and six women: “It went from stolen touches and progressed… I was confused about what was happening.
“He would take my hand and put it on his penis.”
Describing the first alleged rape, she said: “He asked me to take my clothes off; I said ‘no’.”
She said Mr Shackell then threatened to rape a member of her family and she had made him promise not to if she co-operated.
Nevertheless, she added, when Mr Shackell began raping her, she fought back.
The woman told jurors: “He pushed my legs apart… I was trying to kick him and push him off.”
The trial, expected to last seven days, continues.