David Kilner, 57, on trial for sexually touching teenager

A Norlane man who sent inappropriate messages to a child has denied sexually touching the teenager, a court has heard.

David Kilner.

A Norlane man who sent inappropriate messages to a child has denied sexually touching the teenager, a court has heard.

David Kilner, 57, is charged with a number of counts of sexual assault of a child and is standing trial in the Geelong County Court.

The court heard Mr Kilner is alleged to have touched the teenager’s breasts, genitalia and buttocks on a number of different occasions.

Crown prosecutor Danielle Guesdon said Mr Kilner sent a number of messages to the alleged victim which were of a “sexual” or “romantic” nature.

Some of the messages included an image with a couple with the message “I want you this close to me”, as well as an image of a couple in bed embracing.

Ms Guesdon said Mr Kilner also sent an image of a cartoon with two teddy bears in bed with the text “I wish I was in your bed”.

She also told the court he referred to the alleged victim as “babe” and “darling”.

Mr Kilner’s lawyer, Felicity Fox, said her client disputed the allegations that he allegedly sexually touched a teenager.

“Mr Kilner says these events just did not happen” Ms Fox said.

“The sending of the text messages is not in dispute, but on the other hand, how you use those text messages and how much weight you give them is something that is in dispute,” she told the jury.

Ms Fox said defence disputed the reliability and credibility of the alleged victim.

During the closing arguments on Friday, Ms Guesdon said the alleged victim was telling the truth and did not fabricate the alleged sexual acts.

She also told the jury the messages which Mr Kilner sent to the alleged victim, demonstrated that he had a sexual interest in the child, and that he acted on his messages.

Ms Fox told the jury Mr Kilner acted inappropriately when he sent the messages but said the messages were not demonstrative of any desire by Mr Kilner to engage in the types of things that the alleged victim said he did.

The trial continues.

Originally published as David Kilner, 57, on trial for sexually touching teenager