A 62-year-old man is on trial at Bradford Crown Court accused of sexually abusing three children in a catalogue of allegations stretching back almost four decades.

Frank Jones, of Village Mews, Wilsden, Bradford, is alleged to have raped one girl and indecently assaulted her and another girl and boy.

He faces a total of 17 charges, including two of rape, 13 of indecent assault and two of sexually abusing a young boy.

Prosecutor Tina Dempster told the jury yesterday that the allegations dated back to the mid-1970s when Jones was living in Bradford with his wife and family.

He was arrested in January last year after one of his alleged victims, now a grown woman, went to the police in October, 2011.

Miss Dempster said the woman’s mental health had deteriorated after she suffered years of abuse at Jones’s hands.

It is claimed he began molesting her when she was four years old and continued until she was about 12.

Miss Dempster said the child pretended to be dead or asleep when she heard him approaching.

His second alleged victim was a girl of 13 who found him “larger than life, great fun and the life and soul of the party”.

Jones is said to have groped her when she was sleeping on the settee while staying at his home.

He is accused of molesting the boy when he was under six years old.

Miss Dempster said that Jones denied all of the allegations.

He told the police he was entirely innocent of any wrong doing with the children.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told the jury the case would last into next week.

The trial continues.