A Corangamite district farrier has pleaded not guilty to eight sex assault charges in the Warrnambool County Court.
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Harold John Albert Barry, 68, also known as John Barry, has appeared in court for a trial this week before a seven woman-five man jury.
Judge Paul Higham explained the eight charges related to alleged incidents at three locations in the south-west.
The charges allege counts of sexual penetration, masturbating in front of a girl and showing a girl pornography.
Mr Barry has been a farrier working in the horse and racing industry for many years across the western district.
The complainant, who is aged under 16 years old, said she was shown pornographic magazines and DVDs, a vibrator in a multi-coloured pencil case and baby oil.
Police say those items were found in Mr Barry's car.
In his opening address prosecutor David Cordy claimed Mr Barry had sex with the pre-pubescent girl while holding her arms so she couldn't slap him.
He said the complainant recalled feeling hurt, scared and terrified.
Barrister David Cronin said his client had pleaded not guilty and denied he did anything improper to the complainant.
He said there were no eyewitnesses, no DNA or medical evidence and the case came down to whether the jury accepted the complainant's evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.
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