A GRAVE digger accused of abusing two girls in his cemetery cabin and another at his home told a jury : "I don't know what's in their heads."

Raymond Bennett - a 64-year-old former county councillor and Salvation Army volunteer - said he could not understand why the allegations were made.

And three testimonials read to Teesside Crown Court described the father-of-five as "trustworthy", "pleasant and honest" and "a Christian family man".

Mr Bennett, of Daryngton Close, Darlington, denies five charges of indecent assault, two of indecency with a child and a single count of rape.

It is said he abused one child in his home and at church, exposed himself to another and touched a third in the office at East Cemetery, Darlington.

Giving evidence yesterday (Wednesday, January 7), he told the jury of seven women and five men that none of the alleged incidents - said to have happened decades ago - ever took place.

He said he would not have had the opportunity as he was never alone at home, the church hall was always busy, and there were always people in the cemetery.

Asked by his barrister, Dan Cordey, if he had ever behaved inappropriately towards the girls, disabled Mr Bennett replied: "No, never, never."

Mr Bennett, who needed a hearing loop to follow proceedings and walked with a stick, said: "I never did anything like that."

He was accused by prosecutor Katherine Dunn of exaggerating his account to trick the jury into thinking he was never alone with any of the girls.

Miss Dunn said he was trying to portray himself as "a good man" while the truth was he treated the youngsters to ice cream and sweets to "bribe" them.

"We have three young girls - now women - who all allege something happened to them when they were a child," said Miss Dunn. "Why did they lie."

Mr Bennett replied: "I don't understand why they have done it, but what can I do? I can't say anything other than I know that nothing has happened."

Miss Dunn said: "There is no suggestion that they have got their heads together to cause you this horrendous problem . . . they didn't know each other."

The defendant - also a former soldier - answered: "I don't know. I don't know what's in their heads . . . I know I would not do anything like this."

The case will continue today (Thursday, January 8) when the jury is expected to be sent out by Judge Howard Crowson to deliberate the evidence from the two-day trial.