A HEALTH worker accused of sexual activity with a teenage patient seemed nice and appeared to know what he was doing, a court heard.

Damien Bible, aged 26, of Gainsborough Avenue, Daubhill, is accused of carrying out an intimate swab test on a 15-year-old girl — in breach of medical procedures.

He worked as a Young Person’s Health Adviser at The Parallel health clinic for young people in Churchgate, Bolton, in January, 2007, when the incident is said to have happened.

Bible, who denies the charge, is also accused of asking explicit and inappropriate questions during the consultation.

He says the girl tested herself behind closed curtains as he shouted instructions to her.

A trial at Bolton Crown Court was told that the swab test should have been carried out by a doctor in the presence of a chaperone.

The alleged victim was accompanied by two friends, also girls, at the time of the test.

Yesterday, the jury heard from one of them.

When asked by Judge Timothy Clayson if she thought Bible was nice, she said: “I thought he was quite nice.”

The judge then asked if the girls were worried about going back to see Bible.

The girl said: “No, we weren’t worried because, at the time, we didn’t think anything of it.

“We were a bit confused about why she had to go for another swab test but didn’t think much of it.”

The witness said she had urged her friend to allow Bible to do the test even though she was uncomfortable about it.

She said: “He said it would be better if he did it and I said I agreed, because he knew what he was doing.”

The alleged incident came came to light when the 15-year-old girl told a school nurse about her test. She was anxious about the results.

The school and the clinic shared information and the nurse then made a report to her manager.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denied swabbing herself.

She said: “I didn’t think there was anything wrong until I spoke to the school nurse. I didn’t mean to get him in trouble.”

The trial continues.