A TEENAGER allegedly repeatedly raped a ‘pre-pubescent child’, telling her on one occasion it was ‘just a bit of fun’, a jury heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how Joshua Ashton, now 21, was said to have dominated the schoolgirl, physically, emotionally and sexually and told her to shut up as she rejected his advances.

The hearing was told Ashton asserts the girl's allegations are a ‘pack of lies’.

The defendant, of Albert Street, Clayton-le-Moors, denies three counts of rape of a child under 13.

Prosecutor Sarah Johnson told the court Ashton was a teenager when he allegedly raped the girl.

The barrister said: "The defendant had the opportunity, he had the desire and he had the persistence to force himself upon her."

Miss Johnson said the victim did not really understanding what was going on when she was first attacked.

The prosecutor said: "She remarks the defendant really just seemed to ignore everything that she said. She recalls be wasn't looking at her." The girl didn't tell anybody.

Miss Johnson said on the second occasion, Ashton used his body weight to force himself on the girl.

The barrister went on: "She recalls saying no to the defendant repeatedly and him ignoring her requests. Again, she doesn't tell anybody about it. She really didn't quite understand what had happened to her."

The prosecutor said during the third alleged rape, the girl described feeling pain and told Ashton to get off her or she would scream. Miss Johnson said: "She recalls on this occasion actually crying when the defendant was on top of her."

Miss Johnson said in 2011, the girl told her sister and mother what she claimed had gone on.

The barrister continued: "She is distressed, she is crying, she is shaking and she is in what they describe as shock."

Police were called, the defendant was interviewed and ‘flatly denied’ any sexual contact with the girl.

Miss Johnson continued: "He paints the girl as a liar. He says these matters didn't happen. He accused her of simply being an attention seeker."

Miss Johnson told the jury: "The prosecution say that she is a victim and by the end of this case, the prosecution will have made you sure of that."

Proceeding