A MAN has denied nine counts of historic sexual abuse against a child in Slough which are alleged to have occurred about 40 years ago.

Philip Saunders, 67, is on trial at Reading Crown Court after being charged in September last with sexual abuse offences against a boy under the age of 16.

The offences are alleged to have happened between November 1982 and November 1985.

READ MORE: Documentary about unsolved murders to feature Slough newspaper

Saunders has been accused of abusing the boy on several occasions as well as buying him expensive gifts such as a computer and a new bike.

The man has admitted to knowing the boy and buying him some gifts on his birthday but denies all offences.

A jury was sworn in on Monday (October 2) and the trial was opened the following afternoon (Tuesday, October 3).

They were taken through the indictment which includes four charges of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16, including allegations of touching him inappropriately.

There are four counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 16, including allegations of oral sex.

READ MORE: Duo jailed for ram raiding department store and causing over £12k of damage

The ninth charge is one of attempted buggery.

Opening the case, the Crown Prosecution Service barrister said that the allegations occurred when Saunders was aged in his late 20s and the complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was below 16 years old.

She said: “[The boy] was staying overnight at [Saunder’s]…[the boy] had always stayed in the spare room but on this particular occasion, the defendant told [the boy] there was an issue with the bed in the spare room and suggested he sleep in his bed.

“[The boy] said he didn’t think anything about it at the time. Later that night he woke up to find his underpants were pulled down and Mr Saunder’s was [touching him inappropriately].

“He froze and the defendant stopped and went to sleep. The following morning he apologised and said he had mistaken [the boy] for his girlfriend.”

On another occasion, the boy alleged Saunders had taken him to see an American football game at Wembley and had abused him in the car park as well as in the toilets at his place of work in Slough.

The boy reported the incident to police in April 2019 after seeing ‘child abuse covered more in the media’ and ‘feeling ready’ to talk about what happened.

READ MORE: Factory worker jailed for tampering with food products used in Nando's

Saunders, of Queens Road, Aylesham in Canterbury, was interviewed in October 2020 where he denied all offences.

The trial continues.