THE parent’s of a girl who is alleged to have been ‘groomed’ by a Winsford businessman have told a court they were suspicious of the pair’s relationship.

Giles Cross, of Pipers Ash, in Winsford, denies all six counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

The defendant met the 15-year-old at Station Farm Stables, Delamere, where he was looking after his girlfriend's horse.

In the fourth day of his trial, at Chester Crown Court, yesterday, Friday, the jury heard evidence from the teenager’s mother and father.

Simon Mills, prosecuting, asked the alleged victim’s father how well he knew Cross.

”I first met him at the stables when I was helping my daughter,” he told the court.

“For as much as I knew him, he seemed to be friendly, he would wave across to me.

“I found it to be a little bit disconcerting that he was helping her with her homework but she told me as she was doing a business course that Cross was being a great help “I just didn’t think it was quite right.”

The court heard how the girl’s mother found an MSN instant message conversation with the initials GC in it when she was in her daughter’s room.

And on one occasion, in January 2009, the father went looking for his daughter after she told them she was going to see some friends, only for her mother to ring the very same friends and find out she wasn’t with them.

He spotted a vehicle similar to Cross’s near the their home.

“My wife rang her mobile and she asked my daughter where she was and what time she was getting back,” he said.

“She heard music in the background and it was very much like the music that Cross had lent her. So I took the dog out to try and find her and took the usual route. And when I was out I saw a silver 4x4 and saw my daughter get out of it.

“I went back home and we sat down and said we wouldn’t do anything about it at that time.”

Two days later, the father went looking for his daughter again but this time in his car but he didn’t find her.

Duncan Bold, defending, told the court that on that occasion, his client was confronted by the father and was threatened with a knife. The father said it was ‘absolute nonsense’.

Mr Bold added that when the victim was being taken to the police station she was screaming and shouting saying she didn’t want to go. Later on in proceedings the alleged victim’s mother confirmed this.

The trial continues.