A Kingswood man has been found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl as he sang her nursery rhymes before telling her it was “their secret”.

Vernon Foale, 70, of Drive Spur, Kingswood, was found guilty of four charges of indecently assaulting a young girl in the late 1980s and early 1990s by a jury at the Old Bailey today (Wednesday, September 28).

He will be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday, October 26.

The victim – who cannot be named for legal reasons – told Surrey Police Mr Foale placed his fingers on or in her vagina on four occasions between June 16, 1989 and December 31, 1995. She would have been aged between two and eight years old during this period.

Anthony Prosser, prosecuting, told the court on Monday (September 26) that on the first occasion the victim was sitting on Mr Foale’s lap. Mr Foale allegedly placed a pillow across her legs, before touching her.

The victim recalls a “very wet and cold” feeling between her legs.

During the second assault, she was with Mr Foale while he sang “children’s songs or nursery rhymes”, Mr Prosser told the court. Mr Foale then placed his hand inside her knickers.

Two further attacks also took place, during which Mr Foale again touched her vagina.

During the opening to the trial, Mr Prosser referred to a statement written by the victim. It read: “When I think back to it, I know it all happened and that it was terribly wrong, but I think in the moment I never thought it was scary.

“He looked after me at the time.

“He told me it was a secret. It was our secret. And he told me not to tell anyone.”

Mr Foale had denied all charges and insisted any touching was “innocent” and “purely accidental”, when interviewed by police in August 2015. He pleaded not guilty at Guildford Crown Court on March 14.