A MAN took advantage of a 12-year-old girl while her mother was away on an overseas trip, Warrington Crown Court heard.

Over a five-month period, he committed indecent acts upon her and made her perform similar acts on him, the court was told.

Michael Greaves, 51, a former Widnes man now living Blackpool, has denied two charges each of rape and attempted rape and four of indecent assault.

Simon Mills, prosecuting, told the court Greaves first performed an act of indecency on the girl's 12th birthday - just a few days after her mother had left to visit a sick relative.

The next day he told her how easy it would be for someone to hurt her by taking her away from her mother.

As time went by, the acts became more and more indecent.

Shortly before her mother returned, the offences stopped and Greaves told the girl no-one would believe her if she told what had happened and, if she did, would probably never see her mother again.

The case continues.

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