Judge’s widow makes tearful denial of ‘repulsive’ sexual abuse allegations

The elderly widow of a Court of Appeal judge wiped away tears in court as she denied the “completely repulsive” allegations that she sexually abused a young boy in the 1980s.

Lady Nourse, the widow of senior judge Sir Martin Nourse, who died in 2017, is on trial for 17 counts of sexually abusing a boy under the age of 12.

Giving evidence from the witness box, Lady Nourse on Friday choked back tears when asked by her barrister Jonathan Caplan QC if she had ever abused the boy, saying: "No, absolutely not".

The 77-year-old widow told the court that the allegations of historical sexual abuse were "completely untrue" and her alleged victim was "obviously after money".

A transcript of her police interview was read to jurors in which she said that she had lived through "torture" since being accused of the acts of historic abuse.

The court heard claims that her husband Sir Martin knew about her abuse and "turned the other way" before his death aged 85. However, Lady Nourse repeatedly denied the allegations which she said had left her "shell shocked".

She continued: "I begin to wonder if this is all just a fantasy of his. I find it all so alien and peculiar. He could have had a fixation about me. God forbid if he did. I am a rational human being and to me it is completely repulsive."

Lawyers representing Lady Nourse, of Newmarket, Suffolk, asked her why she used the word "blackmail" when the boy confronted her as an adult.

She said that he was "making demands of me", adding: "It seemed like it was to do with money."

The man "wanted anything (he) could get, I think", she said, adding he was "obviously after money".

"I wasn't in a position to give money away," she said.

The wife of Tory peer Jeffrey Archer gave evidence as a character witness for Lady Nourse on Thursday, saying she was one of her "closest friends".

Dame Mary Archer described Lady Nourse, 77, as "kind hearted" and "generous", a keen flower arranger and hostess who doted on her grandchildren.

Lady Archer also said they had also all been on two "wonderful" holidays together, cruising around Turkey and the east coast of the US.

She said they had become friends in 1980 while they were both living in Grantchester near Cambridge. She added: "She is one of my closest friends and one of my oldest friends too."

The court heard how Lady Nourse had needed to seek treatment for depression in the past, telling the jury: "It was like a heavy cloud sitting over the top of me.

"One just kept going. Depression is a difficult thing.

"You're not very energetic. It's not a good place to be."

Lady Nourse previously had a PR company which had organised the premieres of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express and Phantom Of The Opera, in London and New York, the court heard.

She also said she had organised a special recording of a song by children for the Queen's 60th birthday celebrations.

Lady Nourse and her husband married in 1972 and initially lived in Grantchester before moving to Grade-II listed 18th century Dullingham House in Newmarket in 1994.

All of the charges relate to the same male complainant and are five counts of indecently assaulting a boy and 12 counts of indecency with a child.

The trial continues.