The man appeared in a County Court sitting in Ballarat on Monday where he pleaded not guilty to two charges of committing an act of gross indecency, 21 charges of unlawful and indecent assault and three charges of carnal knowledge.

In his opening address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Andrew Moore said the alleged offences occurred more than 40 years ago.

Mr Moore said the accused allegedly visited the victim’s family house in Ballarat with his wife during 1973 where he offered to get fish and chips with the victim.

Travelling in a car with the then 10-year-old victim, Mr Moore said the accused allegedly told the young girl to open her legs and expose her underwear.

The accused later told the victim not to tell anyone.

The prosecutor told the court the alleged incidents began to escalate with further occurences in St Albans and Phillip Island between 1973-74.

The court heard between 1974-1975 the accused visited the victim’s Ballarat home and again went to buy fish and chips with the girl.

Mr Moore said the accused allegedly lifted up the girl’s dress, had her rub his penis and was heard saying “I think you’re ready this time”.

Returning to the house, he had the girl perform oral sex on him before pulling her dress down, and having sex with her while the family was in another area of the property.

Mr Moore said the victim told her mother approximately a year after the incident and no further offences occurred.

Scared about creating problems in the family, he said the victim had only recently told police about the allegations.

“She was, in effect, a girl when this happened, a girl who struggled for many years … with a dark secret,” he said.

“There comes a time she couldn’t handle it any more.”

The prosecutor, who told the court the family was split down the middle by the situation, said the accused denied ever buying fish and chips with the victim.

In her opening address, defence barrister Jo Sweeney, asked the jury to consider whether the complainant was telling the truth and to establish what was going on in the family when the victim came forward to police.

The trial continues.