A TEENAGER accused of trying to rape a nine-year-old girl said she had "made up" a story that he tried to kiss her inappropriately.

The girl alleged that Simon Goode, now 19, had also said to her: "Take your knickers off - if you don't, I will do something worse."

But Goode, of Quarry Hill, Appleton-le-Street, near Malton, told a York Crown Court jury that he had never threatened the girl, kissed her inappropriately, or been alone with her.

Goode, a former shelf-stacker at a Morrisons supermarket, denied setting up games for neighbouring children so that he could assault the girl in a nearby cornfield.

The prosecution alleged that Goode had abused the girl while they were playing games such as hide-and-seek with a group of youngsters living in their street.

Goode denies attempted rape, sexually assaulting the girl, touching her sexually and causing or inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

Simon Hickey, prosecuting, said: "During some innocent games and under the pretext of these innocent games, say the prosecution, he took the opportunity to assault her in a number of ways."

Goode did not succeed in the attempted rape because the girl ran away, the court heard.

In a police video played to the jury, the girl alleged that the abuse occurred over an eight-month period when the children were either playing a form of hide-and-seek, or "training".

"Training" was when older children took the younger children apart to teach them how to do cartwheels, football or rugby.

The girl claimed that Goode took her into the cornfield for "training" and on one occasion, he took her trousers and pants down.

But she told him "no". She then pulled her clothes back up and ran off.

On another occasion he gave her an adult kiss.

Mr Hickey alleged that Goode told police he did play with younger children.

Goode denied doing anything improper during the games.

The trial continues.