Trial begins in Shepparton County Court for alleged child molester Scott Denham

A Cobram man is facing court for allegedly sexually assaulting three young girls during almost 15 years of vile offending.

A Cobram man accused of molesting three young girls between 2001 and 2015 has faced court for the first day of his trial.

Scott Denham, 45, is facing 18 charges including sexual penetration of a child and indecent acts with a child.

It is alleged that Mr Denham sexually abused three victims — all girls who at the time were under the age of 16.

Mr Denham allegedly forced one of the victims to perform oral sex on him, the court heard.

Crown prosecutor Andrew McKenry explained all of the charges in detail to the jury, with another instance alleging Mr Denham showering with two of the victims, while he was naked and aroused.

The Crown also alleges Mr Denham grabbed one of the victim’s vaginas while attending the Cobram Hotel.

Mr Denham allegedly made Facebook posts saying “having lunch with a sexy thing”, while at a restaurant with one of the young girls, while another Facebook post said “out to lunch with this babe”, when attending lunch with another victim.

Mr Denham was aged between 23 and 37 during the alleged offending, while the alleged victims were between the ages of 6 and 15.

The alleged offending occurred in Wendouree, Donald, Cobram, Streatham and Muckatah, with the incidents occurring either at his place of residence or his parents’ residence.

Mr McKenry will call on a raft of witnesses throughout the trial, including all three alleged victims as well as Mr Denham’s parents and one of the alleged victim’s partners.

Mr Denham is represented by defence barrister Tanya Skvortsova, who hopes to get the jury to understand “the full picture” in this trial.

Mr Skvortsova, speaking on behalf of her client, reminded the jury that Mr Denham pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges brought before him in the County Court.

The defence also reminded the jury that Mr Denham has no prior criminal history.

Mr Denham’s wife appeared in court to support her husband, appearing unmoved by both the prosecution’s and defence’s opening remarks.

Judge Michael Cahill told the jury the trial would take approximately 12-14 sitting days.

Mr Denham remains in bail with the trial to continue tomorrow at 10.30am.