The trial of a former Herefordshire detective started this morning, Geoffrey Alan Gough aged 55, denied the attempted kidnap and sexual assault of a 13 year old girl when he appeared at Gloucester Crown Court.

Fiona Elder, prosecuting, said the alleged offences took place in Belmont Tesco Carpark on the evening of April 17, 2007, after Gough had picked up two drunk teenage girls in the city centre.

Gough, added Miss Elder, claimed he was the victim of circumstances, he was merely trying to help the girls by giving them a lift home. The court heard that Gough was a serving police officer at the time of the alleged offences. The trial is expected to last for a week.