A 60-YEAR-OLD Cam man has not attended the first day of his trial for alleged sexual offences against five different girls and women over a 43 year period.

Judge Graham Cottle told the jury at Gloucester Crown Court that the trial would proceed in the defendant's absence.

David Keene, of Draycott, Cam, pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing to a total of 19 charges.

The earliest offence is alleged to have happened between May 1972 and May 1973 and the most recent in September 2015.

There are nine charges of indecent assault, six of rape of a female under the age of sixteen, one of attempted rape of a female under the age of sixteen; one of indecency with a child; and two of sexual assault.

Prosecutor James Haskell told the jury that one set of allegations against Mr Keene is that he sexually abused three sisters when they were between the age of 11 and 15 in the period 1972-1978.

Mr Haskell said that after the three sisters were placed in a foster family, having spent time in care during the 1960's, Mr Keene would visit their home, or they would visit his.

The prosecutor said that after abusing the eldest sister, “He told her that it was 'our secret'.

“She didn't tell anyone, because he said if she said something, he would do the same to her younger sisters,” Mr Haskell claimed.

“She felt by keeping quiet she was in some way protecting them."

The defendant denies all of the allegations against him.

The trial continues, and the jury will be shown the video interviews the each of the complainants gave to the police.