Elkins brothers deny sex attacks on girl in Winchester in the 1970s

David Elkins and Anthony Elkins are charged with attacks dating back to the 1970s.

Anthony Elkins, 69, a steward at Winchester City Football Club, is facing trial at Winchester Crown Court for abusing the girl when she was around 13 years old.

David Elkins, 60, is also accused of molesting two other girls, including an attempted rape against a girl aged between 10 and 12 in the late 1970s or early '80s.

Another brother, Michael Elkins, 62, of Fleming Road, Harestock  is facing trial for sexually assaulting one of the alleged victims as an adult in the 2000s.

David Elkins, of Battery Hill, Stanmore, denied the charges at the opening of the defence at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday. The court heard the first girl was aged 12 at the start of the abuse.

Giving evidence in a white shirt and cream-coloured trousers, the grandfather-of-four was asked whether he committed each offence in relation to her, replying to each: "No, I did not."

The alleged victims cannot be named for legal reasons.

Anthony Elkins, of St Catherine’s Road, Highcliffe, was married with two children at the time of the abuse, the court heard.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Elkins said he would “never, ever” hurt a child.

Asked by Katherine Lumsdon, prosecuting, whether he talked to his brothers about what the girl “might be able to do” for them, Elkins said: “I never said anything, or did anything to her.”

He told the jury: “If my father was alive now I would swear on my father’s life and I’d swear on my children’s lives now.”

A fourth brother, Stewart Elkins, was due to face trial but died in August.

The jury heard how David Elkins, a former pupil at Montgomery of Alamein School, worked for Controlled Heating Unit in Kings Worthy at the time of the charges involving the first girl. He was himself 15 when the alleged abuse began, the court heard.

Robert Bryan, defending David Elkins, told jurors that the accusations date back 45 years, the same time between the Wright brothers' first flight and the Second World War.

He said: "In 45 years man has gone from being able to fly a glider to creating flying machines and nuclear weapons. That's 45 years, the entire period that you're dealing with now. It's not yesterday, is it? It's a significant period of time.

"It was not until 2013 that he was first accused of these allegations, so 43 years later he was first being asked to think back. Think how that has affected his ability to respond to the allegations.

He added that the alleged victim had opportunities to raise the alarm to police, including a visit from an officer, but failed to do so.

The defence of Michael Elkins (below) is expected to start this morning.

The three deny all charges.

Proceeding.