US Football Scandal: First Accuser In Court

A teenager who sparked a child sex investigation into a high-profile American university football coach has broken down in court as he described the alleged abuse he suffered.

The 18-year-old accuser, named in court as Victim 1, said he frequently spent the night at Jerry Sandusky's home.

On one occasion he was sexually assaulted after the coach lay on top of him to "crack" his back, the court was told.

Sandusky was the assistant football coach at Penn State University and the allegations against him have rocked the world of college sports.

His arrest led to the departure of the college's legendary football coach Joe Paterno and the departure of the university president. Paterno died in January of lung cancer.

Sandusky faces 52 criminal counts related to the alleged assaults of 10 boys during a 15-year period.

Authorities allege Sandusky abused boys at his home and inside the football team's facilities, among other places. Sandusky denies the charges.

Victim 1 was the first student allegedly abused by Sandusky and the court heard graphic testimony on its first day.

The teenager said: "I didn't know what to do with all the thoughts running through my head, I just kind of blacked out and didn't want it to happen. I froze."

Sandusky didn't visibly react to the teen's account and looked straight ahead during the testimony.

Two university officials are also charged with perjury and failing to report suspected child abuse.

Victim 1 told the court that Sandusky sent him "creepy love letters" and made him sign contracts that would pay him money for spending time together.

He said he began showering with Sandusky in 1997 and what started out as "soap battles" quickly escalated to sexual contact.

Prosecutor Joseph McGettigan says Sandusky is a "serial predator" who methodically used his youth charity, The Second Mile, to zero in on fatherless children or those with unstable home lives, buy them gifts and take advantage of them sexually.

Sandusky's lawyer Joe Amendola says the case is flimsy and that some of the accusers apparently intend to sue and have a financial stake in the case.

It is expected the defence will try to undermine the credibility of the young men upon whom the case rests.

College sport is big business in the US and the Penn State football team, the Nittany Lions , regularly sells out a 110,000-seat stadium.

There were riots in the streets after Paterno was forced to stand down.