The key prosecution witness in an indecent assault trial has told a court she was subjected to serious sexual abuse as a child during the early to mid-1980s.

In a tear-strewn testimony, she said she had only reported it to police in 2006 because it had taken her years to come to terms with what had happened. She said she had been embarrassed about it, and afraid to come forward.

The defendant denies all 13 charges he faces and his advocate, Dawn Jones, put it to the witness that she had made the whole thing up to get back at him for some reason.

The witness denied that was the case, saying she knew full well what had really happened, as did Ms Jones' client.

The trial was adjourned mid-afternoon so the next prosecution witness could re-read diaries she had written back in the '80s, entries from which are being used as evidence by both sides.

Further diaries, covering the earlier years when the alleged abuse took place, have been brought forward and are due to be submitted as evidence from tomorrow.