A trial into a male NHS nurse accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman has heard from a phone data expert. 

Steven Hicks, 60, of Quentin Road, Woodley, is accused of attacking the complainant after appearing at her home dressed in his work clothes under the pretext of a care visit.

At Reading Crown Court this week, Hicks denied one charge of sexual assault.

This afternoon the court heard from cell site expert Ashley Grant MBA who said Hick's phone was registered to cell towers near the 85-year-old woman's home. 

Hicks had cared for the complainant as part of his work as an NHS nurse in December 2021.

Prosecuting barrister William Eaglestone said Hicks returned to the pensioner's home on January 5, 2022, dressed in his work overalls.

At this point, the woman was not receiving care visits, and she did not recognise Hicks - but she told police she invited him in, believing he had come for a routine examination.

The 85-year-old alleges that, after she lay on her bed, the man assaulted her, and placed his face against her private parts.

Hicks denies that the assault took place - or that he attended the complainant's home on any occasion other than the December care visit.

Mr Grant gave evidence on the location of Hicks' phone on the evening of January 5.

Mr Eaglestone told the jury that, when a user makes a call or sends a text, their phone 'pings' off the nearest cell tower.

This provides a general record of where that phone has been on any given day.

Mr Grant emphasised that it is not possible to trace a phone to a specific address or location.

As a result, investigators could not precisely pinpoint where Hicks went on January 5 based on cell site evidence alone.

However, Mr Grant said that Hicks' phone was registered by multiple cell towers that night, including sites near his own home and the complainant's address.

He told the court that some of the towers the phone pinged at would not have covered Hicks' address - meaning he could not have been at home at the time.

Hicks came onto the police's radar after traces of his DNA were found on the complainant.

He has maintained these came from the December 2021 care visit, when he is not alleged to have assaulted the woman.

The trial continues.