Published Monday, 30 January 2012
Former Indian cricket international Udy Joshi is accused of indecent assault. (© UTV)
Udy Joshi's victim, now 45, gave evidence at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, and explained how he was eager to hear cricket stories from the former Indian international.
Joshi, with an address at Cole Mill Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina in America, was playing cricket for Sussex County at the time of the alleged offence. He denies the three charges against him, which were allegedly committed between 31 July and 22 August 1979, when the complainant was just 13-years-old.
The accused had spent the summer in Northern Ireland, coaching young cricket players and lawyer for the prosecution, Kate McKay told the court the alleged abuse happened in the house where Joshi was staying.
The complainant said he attended a test match with Joshi, and he stayed in the team hotel along with his father and Joshi.
"Graham Gooch and Geoffrey Boycott were most anxious to know how we'd gotten into the hotel and I asked them for their autographs," said the alleged victim adding that legendary batsman Boycott agreed to sign "but only if we bought drinks first".
The jury heard how the first alleged offence happened when the teen stayed overnight in the same house as Joshi.
He said he woke up to find Joshi indecently assaulting him, leaving him feeling "humiliated and degraded". Joshi, it is claimed, told him it was their "secret".
Two weeks later the alleged victim stayed in the house again and claimed he was assaulted for a second time.
On a third occasion when the boy stayed overnight at the house he tried to "fight [Joshi] off" with a shoe.
Earlier Mrs McKay told the jury how the alleged incidents did not come to light "for some considerable time" but when arrested and interviewed, Joshi denied all the offences and claimed nothing untoward or indecent had happened.
The trial, set to last to the end of next week, continues. At hearing.