A 64-year-old man allegedly abused four girls when they were aged between seven and 14, a York Crown Court jury heard.
George Gore faces 23 sexual charges including rape, which were all allegedly committed between 1968 and 1994.
Opening the prosecution against him, Philip Standfast claimed that Gore abused each of them on more than one occasion when they were children. All four are now women.
He alleged that three of the four told relatives or friends about the abuse but swore them to secrecy.
The barrister claimed that on more than one occasion Gore was confronted by friends or relatives of the four about the quartet's allegations and that when one of the confidants gave him a lift to York city-centre, Gore told him: "Tell them I am sorry".
Gore, of Ordnance Lane, Fulford, denies all charges.
He is accused of committing six indecent assaults on the oldest girl when she was aged between seven and 12, three indecent assaults against the second oldest girl when she was aged 11 or 12, three indecent assaults against the third oldest girl when she was aged between seven and nine, and two rapes, eight indecent assaults and one indecency with a child, committed when the youngest girl was aged between 11 and 14.
The offences are alleged to have occurred in different places in York.
The trial is expected to last several days.
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