A MAN accused of a series of sickening sex crimes against women has told a jury that the claims "disgust" him.

Sean Johnstone said he was incapable of doing some of the things that are alleged and others were impossible.

The 42-year-old claimed his degenerative illness means he would have been unable to carry out the attacks.

Two women have told a court that they were assaulted, sexually abused and raped by the dad-of-five from Hartlepool.

One of them claims she was threatened with a knife when she refused to take part in a sex act with his pet dog.

Mr Johnstone, who denies a total of 28 charges, was giving evidence at Teesside Crown Court yesterday (Monday, January 15).

He told the jury of six men and six women that none of the allegations were true, saying: "They're disgusting."

The jury has heard that police found child abuse pictures and extreme pornography on his three computers.

Asked by his barrister Jim Withyman how the images got there, he replied: "I don't know . . . I've wracked my brains."

Under cross-examination from prosecutor David Brooke, he denied the allegations, saying: "It's all malice."

Mr Brooke said: "The truth is, you treated those women appallingly. Mr Johnstone replied: "You don't know the truth."

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, is likely to sum up the case today before the jury is sent out.