Ex-Layer de la Haye shop worker accused of sex offences

Christopher White, 37, is alleged to have exchanged cigarettes, alcohol and sweets for “sexual favours” while he worked at Layer Village Store in Layer de la Haye.

A trial exploring the alleged offences, said to have taken place between 2007 and 2009, continued yesterday.

During cross-examination one of the complainants said she was taken to a quiet space behind the shop, now under new ownership, by White and sexually abused.

Trial - Christopher White, 37, is facing a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court (Image: Archant)

“It was in the back of the shop,” she said. “There was a storeroom and then outside there was a walkway and that is where we were taken.”

She told the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court how another youngster was made to act as a lookout in case any customers came to the shop.

Read more from the trial: Former village shop worker gave children cigarettes for 'sexual favours', court hears

She claimed the watchperson would then dash to the back of the site and shake a fence to alert White of imminent danger.

The court heard the shop’s owner had banned groups of more than two schoolchildren from entering at a time.

Alleged offences - Layer de la Haye (Image: Google)

Dingle Clark, defending, asked the complainant: “Do you recall if Christopher White imposed that rule?”

She responded: “I’m not sure. I recall [the shop owner] saying that no more than two children were allowed in the shop.

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“[White had] time limits for when the activity took place to ensure [the shop owner] wasn’t there and that we weren’t breaking the rules.”

Mr Clark added: “On numerous occasions you took part in sexual activity in order to gain either sweets or alcohol, is that right?”

Investigation - the trial is exploring alleged offences in Layer de la Haye (Image: Google)

The complainant said: “And cigarettes.”

The barrister revealed in 2017 the complainant then in her twenties, messaged White asking to meet at a “dogging” site in Braintree.

He said it was “strange” for her to do having allegedly been sexually abused by White.

She responded: “It is strange but I wasn’t aware I was a victim until I told the police [in 2019]. Until that point I had blamed myself for what I had done.”

White, of Mill Lane, Birch, denies three offences of sexual activity with a child, two offences of sexual assault of a child and two offences of rape of a child.

• The trial continues.

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