The trial of a man accused of several serious sexual offences against a young girl, including raping her on several occasions, began earlier today (Monday).
David Gray, of Gunville Road in Newport, appeared in the dock at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today as his trial got underway.
The 53-year-old had previously denied 2 counts of rape of a child under the age of 13 and 3 counts of sexual activity with a child at a previous hearing in December 2025.
The alleged offending took place between February 2009 and February 2013, when Gray was in his 30s.
After the jury was sworn in, His Honour Judge Ashworth proceeded to explain to jurors the requirements of jury service, what they could and could not do, and what the prosecution was setting out to prove.
First to address the jury was Tom Wilkins, representing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In his opening address, Mr Wilkins outlined the CPS case, presented a timeline of events and told jurors who would be taking to the witness stand throughout the trial.
Mr Wilkins told the jury that the complainant had a difficult and unsettled childhood and that Gray “saw vulnerability and exploited it”.
The first evidence shown to jurors was a video interview with the complainant, conducted in February 2025. In the recording, the alleged victim, now an adult, claimed Gray had raped and sexually abused her over a number of years.
She said sexual activity between the pair took place “most days” – sometimes even when she had told Gray to stop, and often without protection being used.
The court heard how the sexual activity took place in several locations, including the back of a 7-seater people carrier. Gray, who is alleged to have bought the girl a “promise ring”, would be “very careful” not to make too much noise when the alleged sexual acts were taking place, Mr Wilkins told the court.
The complainant was allegedly told by Gray that she could not tell anyone about what they were doing because he would “get in trouble” due to the substantial age gap between them.
She told officers that she and Gray would exchange text messages daily, often while she was at school and he was at work. Sometimes, he would collect her from school, the court heard.
In her interview, the complainant told police: “I believed it was a relationship”… “but the more time went by, I realised what was happening wasn’t normal.”
There has been no contact between the pair since the then-teenager told Gray: “I’m not doing it anymore” back in 2013.
The court heard that Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary searched Gray’s home in 2025, finding several items allegedly belonging to the complainant in a cabinet in his bedroom. These included razors, lace underwear, a payslip and clippings of her hair, Mr Wilkins said.
The trial, which is expected to last 5 days, continues.
