A GIRL was regularly raped and sexually abused for almost a decade of her life between the ages of 10 and 18, a jury was told this week.

She was preyed on in the 1960s and ‘70s by John Peters, a former soldier now aged 79, it was alleged at Gloucester Crown Court.

Peters, formerly of Nailsworth, near Stroud, Gloucestershire but now of Penparcau Road, Aberystwyth, has pleaded not guilty to six charges of rape and six of indecent assault of the girl between September 1969 and October 1978.

Prosecutor Robert Duvall said the case was the kind which would “conjure up a number of emotions and preconceptions”, but the jury had to listen to the evidence dispassionately and weigh up whether the prosecution had proved that the alleged offences took place.

After the matter was reported to Gloucestershire police, the complainant was interviewed.

Mr Duvall said: “She disclosed in detail the nature, extent and duration of her sexual abuse and the background circumstances in which it took place.

“In summary, she alleged that between the ages of 10 and 18 or so she was sexually assaulted and raped by this man on a regular basis.”

Mr Duvall said: “The abuse was frequent, it was unwelcome and she did not consent to it at any stage. Her continued silence allowed the abuse to go on for many years unabated and undetected by others.”

The trial continues.