Indecent assault trial hears from alleged victim

Wednesday 19 July 2017

The alleged victim of a series of indecent assaults told the Royal Court yesterday that, "...the more time passed, the worse it would get."

Mark Beaufort Loane denies all six indecent assault charges against him.

The alleged victim told the Court: "I remember (it) starting off as less and continuing as worse. The more time passed the worse it would get. Depending on how far he had gone, if I was in a position to stir or cough I would, to scare him."

The woman continued saying that the alleged assaults decreased in frequency as she got older and stopped when she was about 15 or 16. She also said that the alleged assaults "...affected my relationships with people, like my ex-boyfriend. I never wanted anyone to come near me in that way."

When Crown Advocate David Steenson asked her why she hadn't confronted Mr Loane when it first allegedly happened, she replied tearfully: "I didn’t want him to realise I knew what he was doing because I was terrified. It was easier to just lie there and freeze. I was so scared telling him to stop wasn't an option. I just had to wait until it stopped.

"Until I confronted him, I believe he thought I had no idea."

She told her mum last year what had happened and the two decided to confront Mr Loane. The alleged victim recorded the conversation, unknown to Mr Loane, and the conversation was played in Court. In it Mr Loane is heard yelling "I didn't touch her" and calling sexual abuse "f***ing horrific." 

During the cross-examination, Mr Loane's advocate, Stephen Baker, who is assisted by advocate Julian Gollop, challenged the alleged victim on her claims, and especially on the fact she couldn't pinpoint when the alleged assaults had stopped, or even if she was 15 or 16 at the time. The woman replied that she simply didn't remember. 

The trial, which is expected to last until Thursday, resumes this morning with the evidence of a police officer involved in the investigation.