A Canberra man accused of raping an 11-year-old girl and warning her to keep it secret has been refused bail.
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Glen Vandervord, 33, appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday on charges of sexual intercourse, attempted sexual intercourse and committing acts of indecency.
A police statement, tendered in court, said Vandervord had shown the girl pornography and assaulted her on four or five occasions over the past year.
In May, the defendant allegedly gifted the girl a sex aid.
The police said the accused then bathed with the girl, touched her and asked her to touch him and later attempted to use a sex toy on her.
Vandervord was arrested on Sunday after the girl told her mother of the alleged abuse.
The prosecution opposed his release, arguing he could interfere with witnesses or fail to reappear to face the charges.
Prosecutor Trent Hickey said police were yet to interview potential witnesses and feared the defendant could influence them if granted bail.
Mr Hickey told the court a sex toy described by the girl had been seized and was undergoing forensic analysis.
Vandervord’s defence lawyer told the court on Monday his client would fight the charges and the case would come down to “word-on-word”.
The defence said Vandervord could live with his mother near Forbes in NSW and would provide a $1000 surety.
Magistrate Bernadette Boss denied bail, saying the alleged victim appeared to have sexual knowledge the average 11-year-old would not normally know.
Dr Boss said the allegations were serious crimes, which would result in a jail sentence if proven.
Vandervord will reappear later in the month.