A golfer took a young amateur under his wing and molested him on holiday trips to famous British courses, the Old Bailey heard.

Michael Fernandez, 52, befriended the 12-year-old after meeting him at a golf club and "almost became part of the family."

The boy's parents trusted Fernandez so much they allowed him to take their son to renowned golf courses including Gleneagles in Scotland.

And they let Fernandez, of Denhams Farm, Billingshurst, share a tent with him during a holiday in Spain.

But unbeknown to the parents Fernandez subjected the boy to a catalogue of sexual abuse from 1983 until 1988, it was claimed.

Fernandez was arrested last year when the alleged victim, now 30, began counselling for a gambling addiction and found enough courage to tell police.

David Jeremy, prosecuting, said the boy was at an age when he "was unable to resist the defendant's advances."

He said: "The instances happened so frequently that the boy cannot remember every occasion but they took place in his car, home, holiday cottage, in the guest houses the pair stayed in and even in the tent they were using when on holiday with his family.

"His family suspected nothing."

The contact became less frequent after Fernandez moved away when the boy was about 17.

Fernandez was arrested on May 23 last year at his home. He told police he had cuddled the boy and given him presents but denied doing anything improper.

Fernandez denies four counts of indecent assault on a male and four more serious sexual offences between March 1983 and March 1988.

The trial continues.