A CHIDDINGFOLD builder repeatedly sexually abused a woman who employed him, and the cleaning woman who worked for her parents, over a five-year period, Guildford Crown Court heard last week.

John Black (53), from Fisher Lane, pleaded guilty on Friday August 31 to seven charges of indecently assaulting his employer between July 31 1995 and December 1 2000, and and one charge of indecently assaulting the second woman, on December 14, 2000.

Caroline Carberry, prosecuting, explained that Black was a self employed builder with a good reputation in the area, which was how the first victim heard about him.

The woman needed repair work done to a house she had bought in 1995, so she employed Black to make the home hospitable for herself and her parents.

While the work was being carried out, the woman would call at the house for progress checks. On these occasions, Black would put his arm around the woman and gave her "pecks on the cheek".

Mrs Carberry said that the woman thought he was being over-friendly, but no more than that. However, his behaviour began to escalate despite her pushing him away and telling him to stop.

The court heard how he would grab her around the waist and pull her towards him, then kiss her face and force his tongue into her mouth. On one occasion he tried to force her hand down his trousers.

The woman would tell Black to stop it, but he told he that it was a waste of a young body not to let him carry on.

When the woman moved into the house, Black's behaviour worsened. He had fitted doors with new locks so that he could let himself in any time, and would often arrive unannounced.

Black also told the woman not to say anything about what he was doing, saying "This is between you and me."

Eventually though, she became so frightened that she told her parents, who reported the matter to the police.

The assault on the cleaner took place while she was working for the first victim's parents in December 2000, who were also having building work done on their home.

On December 14, the cleaner had coffee with Black, who made compliments about her appearance. Putting his hand out as if to shake hers, instead he pulled the woman towards him and tried to kiss her on the lips.

She asked him to leave and locked the door behind him, before calling her husband.

Black was then sent a letter terminating his employment, to which he wrote back apologising, claiming that he had never done anything like this before.

Black was arrested in May this year, and when interviewed said that the two women were lying.

He said that he had on occasions he had kissed young women on the cheek but could not understand why they had made these complaints against him. Black has been remanded into custody for reports, until September 21.