Former Driffield Brook Cottage children's home manager Paul Lamb on trial for historic rape and sex offences against young girls and staff

Paul Lamb, 73, is currently on trial at Hull Crown Court charged with 16 counts of indecent assault, one attempted indecent assault and three counts of rape.

Lamb, who previously worked as a police officer at The Met, is alleged to have committed the offences against children and staff at the former Brook Cottage children's home in Driffield, East Yorkshire between 1984 and 1987.

The jury at Hull Crown Court yesterday heard from a female member of staff at the care home, who said Lamb sexually assaulted her in the pantry.

Giving evidence the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "I was in the pantry thinking about collecting the food for the children's tea and Paul entered the pantry behind me. He came into the pantry and at first was just chit-chatting to me. The door closed behind us as it always did. I can't recall the actual conversation, but then everything changed. Paul came from behind me and put both his hands around my waist and put the flats of his hand on my stomach.

"I started to feel really uncomfortable. Everything was really silent. I think I became quite anxious as was not sure what was happening or why. He started forcing his hands up underneath the bottom of my breasts. I felt like he was going to get hold of both my breasts. I grabbed both of his hands and tried to push them down to stop him, but he resisted very strongly. I grabbed the flour from the pantry and flicked it into his face and he stopped."

She said: "I remember waking up one evening and seeing Paul standing in my bedroom. He just appeared to be looking at me and watching me. I tried to pretend he wasn't there and just hoped he wouldn't do anything.

"This happened at least two or three times and I just used to freeze."

The woman also told the court how Lamb would purchase alcohol for the underage children when they went out on day trips.

Lamb faced a disciplinary hearing and was suspended from his role in 1986.

The court heard how he was arrested at his home in York on October 22, 2019.

He was released on bail.

Lamb was arrested again in September 2020, following a further allegation of indecent assault and rape of a girl at a care home in the south of England.

He told police: "The claims are totally fictitious. The allegation of rape is ridiculous. All of it is absolutely ludicrous."

Lamb, of The Werdyke, York, denies the charges against him.

The trial continues.