A CHURCH-going teacher has appeared in court charged with rape of a young girl and the attempted rape of a woman.

Jerome Uche, of Deynecourt Gardens, Wanstead, is accused of attacking a 15-year-old girl who came from Germany to stay at his family home over Easter 1995.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard the 48-year-old abused the terrified girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as she slept in the bottom bunk of her bed while his own children slept in the bunk above.

The father-of-four is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his home in October 1995 and attempting to rape her.

Uche’s first alleged victim told the court: “After I had gone to bed he would then come to my bedside. He knelt down in front of the bed and touched me under my pyjamas.

“I do remember that his hand came under the bed covers and then he put his hand inside my pyjama trousers and touched me there.

“He said that I should be quiet so that the children wouldn’t hear it. I didn’t say anything but just tried to push him away.”

Prosecuting counsel Christopher Amor asked whether anything like this had happened on any other occasion.

She replied: “One day when no one else was present I was on my own with him and we were watching TV in the living room. It was a sex movie but I can’t remember it well.”

“Jerome put a blanket in the middle of the living room where the TV was in the background and took my clothes off.

“After that he also took his clothes off and lay on top of me.”

The court then heard Uche raped the girl despite her protests.

The prosecution council then asked the complainant if Uche had raped her on any other occasion.

She said: “One day we drove to a flat where Jerome rang the bell and a man opened the door. I don’t know where his family where but they do lots with the church.

“We were offered some drinks in the living room. They were alcoholic. I had some Bailey’s as it tastes sweet and I didn’t feel it was strong alcohol. I think I had almost the whole bottle.

She told the court that after the other man left the flat Uche raped her again.

Uche is accused of indecent assault of a child under 16, inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency and two counts of rape of a child under 16.

He is also accused of one count of indecent assault on a woman, and the attempted rape of a woman.

Introducing the cross examination Judge William Kennedy said: “Jerome Uche’s case is that the acts that you describe never happened. His response will be that every sexual act that you described is untrue.”

Adam Davis, for the defence, said: “It is also my case that if they did happen they did not happen in the presence of this defendant.”

Mr Uche denies all charges.

The trial continues.