Plymouth man Robert Rohleder 'bribed attack victims'
A man who faces charges of abusing 17 children used bribes to keep his victims quiet, a court heard.
Robert Rohleder, 54, of Mount Gould, Plymouth, faces 60 charges including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. He denies all charges.
Plymouth Crown Court heard that an alleged victim, who was 13 at the time, claimed Rohleder told her that if she spoke out no-one would believe her.
The charges cover a period of almost two decades.
The court was shown video evidence of an interview with an alleged victim from the 1990s.
On the video she told a police officer that Rohleder had attempted to rape her but she had fought him off and run away.
The alleged victim said Rohleder told her that if she had spoke out, she would be taken away from her mother.
David Evans, prosecuting, said Rohleder kept the alleged victims quiet with bribes of money and treats, and sometimes with violence.
Despite being questioned by police in 1998, 2004 and 2009 it was not until 2011 that he was charged.
The charges cover allegations of attacks between 1988 and 2007.
The trial continues.