A MAN in his late 20s has gone on trial accused of knowingly having sex with a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Prosecutor Nicholas Gareth Jones told a jury at Cardiff Crown Court how Kyron Jenkins, of Ty Newydd, Pontypool, committed the alleged offences over an 11-day period.

The 28-year-old defendant is said to have committed six counts of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16.

He denies all the charges.

The jury were shown a video recording of the complainant’s police interview during which she told detectives: “He knew my age so it was his fault not mine.”

During cross-examination, the alleged victim was asked by Marianne Lewis, who is defending Jenkins, “You told him you were 16, didn’t you?”

She replied: “No. I told him I was 15.”

Miss Lewis also asked her: “You were mixing with older people, weren’t you?”

The complainant answered: “Yes, but I told him I was 15.”

The defence barrister put it to her that she wore a lot of make-up and dressed older than her age.

The complainant agreed with those statements but maintained that she told Jenkins she was under 16.

The court heard how the defendant and complainant had first met at a house in Newport and had later had sex at Jenkins’ flat, stayed with him there and that she had returned to visit him.

The jury heard the alleged victim claim that Jenkins told her he was 19 and not in his late 20s.

The trial, presided by Judge Richard Twomlow, is expected to last two days.

Proceeding.