Warning: this story contains distressing details.

A 64-year-old Harrogate man has gone on trial accused of a catalogue of child sex offences including rape.

Elwyn Taylor, of Skipton Road, is alleged to have sexually abused three children over a 10-year period between 1996 and 2006 when he was in his 30s and 40s.

He appeared for trial at York Crown Court today (February 3) after pleading not guilty to 14 charges, including one count of raping a girl under 13 years of age, gross indecency with a boy and indecently assaulting another girl.

None of the complainants, who are now adults, can be named for legal reasons.

Nick Adlington, opening the case for the prosecution, said the boy was sexually abused in the late 1990s when he was indecently assaulted by Mr Taylor.

One of the girls was sexually abused in the early 2000s when she was allegedly subjected to “numerous” sexual assaults, added Mr Adlington.

The court heard Mr Taylor, formerly of Ripon, would make the girl touch his private parts and told her he would “teach” her how to perform a lewd act on him.

It is alleged he also “taught” the other girl about sexual matters and went on to sexually abuse her, including on one occasion by raping her.

Mr Adlington said the girl “struggled with her mental health in the ensuing years due to that sexual abuse”, which occurred in the Harrogate area.

Mr Taylor was finally charged with the allegations in January 2024 but denied all the charges.

The allegations include one count of gross indecency with a young boy and indecent assault against the same child.

He is also accused of six counts of indecently assaulting one of the young girls and two counts of gross indecency with that child.

In relation to the other girl whom he is accused of raping, he’s also charged with three counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13 years of age.

His barrister Susannah Proctor said that Mr Taylor insisted there had been no sexual activity with any of the complainants.

The trial continues.