A young woman has described how she felt “embarrassed, scared and guilty” about allegedly being abused by a former chairman of Sittingbourne Christmas Lights Association.

“I felt like I had done something really bad,” she told a jury of seven women and five men at Maidstone Crown Court.

“I just thought I must have done something really wrong to deserve it.

“I didn’t know whether to push him away or just let it happen, so I just lay there and let it happen. I felt if I pushed him away he would probably kill me.”

James Mitchell, of Invicta Road, Sheerness, is on trial accused of 35 charges involving 11 alleged victims over about 40 years.

The 55-year-old denies 14 offences of indecent assault, four of sexual activity with a child, two of indecency with a child, one of rape, one of gross indecency and 13 other serious sexual offences.

In a recorded interview, the woman, who cannot be identified, said of Mitchell’s alleged abuse: “He was saying I was dirty… and not to scream, things like that. I said stop.

"He just sort of dropped me and told me to sort myself out – to get dressed and wipe my tears. He just sort of stopped and left.”

The woman claimed on one occasion Mitchell told her he was sorry after he raped her.

“He started crying and told me it wouldn’t happen any more,” she said. “I felt disgusting and dirty.”

Mitchell, she said, would hold her wrists with one hand and the other around her throat to make sure she stayed still.

"he just sort of dropped me and told me to sort myself out – to get dressed and wipe my tears…”

“It was horrible and I couldn’t breathe properly,” she continued. “I was on my front. When he turned me over he put his hand on the back of my head.

“I said: ‘Please stop.’ He just ignored me and carried on. He told me not to tell anyone.”

The woman said Mitchell told her he was going to “do it” like he did with another girl.

She told the police officer carrying out the interview: “I don’t want to sit here and tell you these things but he done something wrong.

“I have always been told that if you have done something wrong, you have got to be punished for it. I just want him to understand how I felt and what he put me through.”

The trial continues.