A MAN has pleaded guilty to raping and indecently assaulting a young girl he was living with almost 30 years ago.
Steven Rushworth, 62, of Pooltown Road, Ellesmere Port, appeared in Warrington Crown Court on Wednesday charged with four counts of indecent assault and one count of rape dating back to the 1970s.
The court heard how between October 1979 and December 1982 Rushworth indecently assaulted a young girl aged seven-10 while living with her at her home in Chester.
After two years of sexual assault Rushworth raped his young victim when she was less than 16 years old.
Rushworth, who has been on bail for the offences since 2009, admitted four charges of historic indecent assault and one of rape.
Patrick Thompson, defending said Rushworth had not offended since then and described his client as in ‘very poor health’.
Mr Thompson said: “The difficulty is that Mr Rushworth lives with his partner who has just had a second stroke.
“He himself is in poor health and life expectancy should be determined before sentence is imposed. He is fully aware he is facing a considerable time in custody.”
Remanding Rushworth in custody while reports are prepared, Judge Thomas Teague said: “These are very very serious offences.” Rushworth will be sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on Friday, October 28
