A middle-aged man is standing trial for inciting a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

Manuel Joao Alves Bicho, 46, from Parkhurst, Epsom, appeared at Guildford Crown Court accused of sexually touching the girl on three occasions between September and November 2010.

The court heard how the girl had revealed the allegations following a ‘delicate’ discussion about growing up when her mother told her she must not hide things from her.

Shortly afterwards the girl broke down in tears and told her family about the alleged abuse, who immediately alerted the police.

Rachel Davies, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Bicho first "touched her under her clothing", "kissed her on her mouth using his tongue" and other incidents of sexual assault at the girl's home while her sister had momentarily left the room.

The second incident is said to have happened at the girl’s grandmother’s house, where Mr Bicho is accused of kissing the girl and touching her breasts over her clothing while the girl's mother and grandmother were also in the house.

On a third occasion he invited the girl on a trip in his van, where he is said to have inappropriately touched the girl and told her not to tell anyone.

The prosecution told the court: "He (Bicho) denied any sexual touching or interest in children at all and said he had not had any opportunity to touch her at her or his address.

"He also denied that he had touched her in the car.

"The prosecution say there were opportunities and these first two incidents were the precursor to the final incident in the car where he had a much better opportunity to touch her having tested the waters on previous occasions.

"He facilitated a situation where he could be alone with her in that vehicle and allowed more than that momentary opportunity to touch her."

Mr Bicho denies three charges of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

The trial continues.