Man denies sex with schoolgirl

Gary McBride had allegedly plied the youngster with vodka and cocaine at his home before having sex with her.

A jury has heard that 46-year-old McBride was jailed a year ago after admitting exchanging sexual messages and requesting indecent photos of her.

The girl later went on to make a complaint about him also raping her while she was at his home while missing from the residential home in Wigan.

David Watson, prosecuting, has told Liverpool Crown Court: “The prosecution case is the defendant took full advantage of a vulnerable child, engaging in grooming behaviour supplying both drink and drugs to her, and did so in order to have sexual intercourse with her.”

The youngster went missing in February last year, travelling to McBride’s house in Liverpool where she stayed for two nights.

Mr Watson said that the background to the alleged offence involved the couple exchanging “wholly inappropriate sexual messages” on Kik Messenger with McBride used a false name.

On February 12 at his request she sent him nude pictures of herself and the next day they discussed her coming to stay.

The girl told police she met him after meeting him on Facebook. She accepted staying with him but denied any 
sexual activity.

Police traced the defendant and when arrested he allegedly replied: “She told me she was 16-years-old.”

Mr Watson said the girl largely refused to cooperate, would not provide a statement or be interviewed, and was upset that McBride had been arrested.

When interviewed by police on May 7, McBride denied any sexual activity or any physical contact.

He said he had slept on the sofa and denies having sex with the girl.

McBride, of Greenfield Road, Old Swan denies rape.

The trial continues