Witness in tears at sexual abuse trial

A MAN who was allegedly subjected to systematic sexual abuse by a Norfolk MBE yesterday wept in court as he described how the youth leader forced himself on him.

The man, who said he was between 14 and 16 years old when the abuse started, told Norwich Crown Court he had lived with the secret of his abuse for decades as he did not think anybody would believe him.

Henry Day, known as Harry, of Wood View, North Walsham, faces 22 charges over the abuse of young boys. The attacks are alleged to have happened at camps organised by the Young Citizens Guild, an organisation set up by 70-year-old Day.

Earlier jurors heard from another alleged victim who said he was molested three times by Day and had stopped attending camps after the final attack.

He said: “It's about time it came out. I've lived with it all my life, all by myself.”

The second witness described how he had been invited to share Day's private caravan at the guild's camp at Hemsby, near Yarmouth. He said Day would invite him to share his bed and would ask him to touch him.

The man then broke down in tears as he described how Day had had sex with him against his will. He said: “It seemed like it lasted forever. It was sore.

“Afterwards I went back to bed and went to sleep. I didn't agree to him doing it and he knew that.”

Referring to other occasions that abuse took place, the man said: “Sometimes I would try to stop it. I'd say I was tired or move him away and that would stop him.”

On another occasion the guild visited Yorkshire on a trip. The man said Day took him to a swimming pool, locked the doors and made him swim naked before abusing him.

He claimed that Day would give him �10 or �20 or buy him jewellery to encourage him to stay quiet.

“I wouldn't say anything because I was scared,” he said. “He knew all the police, all the coastguards and I thought people wouldn't believe me.”

Day set up the Young Citizens Guild in 1957 with the aim of helping young people become responsible members of society. He was made an MBE for services to young people.

He denies 22 offences including indecent assault, indecent assault against under-16s, incitement to indecent assault and carrying out a sexual act. There are eight alleged victims and the charges date over a period from 1973 to 1995.

He also denies perverting the course of justice after allegedly contacting a witness in the case in an attempt to persuade them to support his story.

The case continues.