A deaf schoolgirl allegedly sexually abused numerous times by her taxi driver kept it a secret for almost three years, a Sydney court has heard.
The profoundly deaf girl aged about 10 was "frozen in fear" as Osman Chamseddine, 64, allegedly molested her on four separate trips to and from her special-needs school in Sydney's west in 2009.
He's pleaded not guilty to a string of charges, including aggravated sexual intercourse with a child and indecent assault of a person under 16 years or age.
In his opening address at Chamseddine's trial, crown prosecutor Andrew Metcalfe said the girl, who is now 16, was the first child of a group of six to be picked up on the school bus route and the last to be dropped off.
It was during these periods that Chamseddine drove his van to a secluded spot and asked her to sit in the front seat with him, Mr Metcalfe told the jury at Parramatta District Court.
Chamseddine allegedly began speaking to the girl in a "flirtatious manner" before reaching across and touching her vagina, Mr Metcalfe said.
On other occasions he got into the back of the van and touched her breast and forced her to touch his erect penis, Mr Metcalfe said.
"She tried to say stop but was frozen in fear," he said.
The child was too frightened to tell her parents at the time, but later came forward in 2012, telling one of her high school friends who then informed a teacher.
The court heard Chamseddine, a subcontractor for RSL Taxis, was the only male driver hired for that route during the period of the offences - school terms two and three of 2009.
He said records found by the cab company and the description of the van given by the girl's mother matched Chamseddine's vehicle.
His lawyer, Michael Crawford-Fish, said it was not in dispute that Chamseddine had driven the girl to school during that time.
However, the "honesty and reliability" of the girl's allegations were, he said.
"He vehemently denies that he touched in any inappropriate way," Mr Crawford-Fish said.
The trial continues.
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