May 2014
Convicted child abuser from Roydon denies new sexual assault charges
A CONVICTED child abuser raped and sexually assaulted three young girls over a 14-year period, a court has heard.
Christakis Christodoulou, 72, attacked the victims at his home in Dagenham, Essex, while his partner was out of the house, it is claimed.
The abuse allegedly took place between 1986 and 1999 while the girls were aged between seven and 15.
Christodoulou, who now lives in Temple Mead, Roydon, has two previous convictions for indecent assault and indecency with a child dating back to the 1980s.
He was arrested in 2012 after one of the victims came forward to police.
She claimed that she initially saw Christodoulou’s home as a place of safety because of difficulties at home, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.
Robert Evans, prosecuting, said: “She thought she had seen him spying on her when she was in the bath one night and after she went to bed she woke up to find him checking on her.”
He then raped her in the bed, the court heard.
Christodoulou also sexually assaulted her during a movie night with his partner, it is claimed.
The abuse continued until shortly before her 16th birthday, the court heard.
Christodoulou allegedly assaulted the second victim until she started going to secondary school and felt able to resist him, it is claimed.
The final alleged victim was just seven or eight when the abuse began and continued until around 1987 to 1988.
Mr Evans said: “She was too young to understand what was happening and she remember him telling her not to tell anyone.
“When she complained he told her that he loved her.”
She also claimed that on one occasion an assault was interrupted by Christodoulou’s girlfriend walking into the room.
When Christodoulou was interviewed by police he denied ever having sex with any of the girls but said he could not think of a reason they would make it up.
He said he had not seen the girls since 2000.
Christodoulou denies three counts of rape, six counts of indecent assault and three of indecency with a child.
The trial continues.
