ACHOGBUO: GIRL SEXUALLY ASSAULTED DURING SCRABBLE GAME

A man sexually assaulted a nine-year-old girl after telling her to come and sit on his knee during a game of Scrabble, a court heard.

Obinna Achogbuo, 43, allegedly pulled up the girl’s top after telling her little sister to leave the room to fetch him a drink.

He told the girl she ‘must not tell’ anyone after carrying out another similar attack within months, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

The Nigerian national carried out the attacks after entering the UK in July 2008 while he was staying in east London until 31 January 2009.

John Coates, for the prosecution, said the first attack had taken place while the girl and her younger sister were playing scrabble with Achogbuo.

He asked the younger girl to go and get him a drink, leaving him alone with his victim.

‘The defendant said that she should come and sit on his lap, and she did,’ said Mr Coates.

‘He then lifted up her top.

‘She remembers asking what he was doing and he did not answer.’

The girl said a similar attack had taken place on another occasion.

Mr Coates said: ‘She again said to the defendant “What are you doing?”

‘He didn’t answer straight away, but when he stopped the assault he said she should not tell anyone.’

The victim, who is now aged 12, did not work up the courage to tell anyone what had happened until June 2010, more than a year later, jurors heard.

Achogbuo refused to answer police questions.

Achogbuo, of (169b) Jerningham Road, New Cross, denies two counts of sexual activity with a child under 13.

The trial continues.