JURORS were told however “sinister” the actions of child sex abuse accused Stanley Simpson may seem, he had an “innocent” explanation.

The former advice centre legal advisor is accused of sexually abusing five boys and two girls at various home addresses where he lived, in Sunderland, and Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, between about 1980 and 2000.

Durham Crown Court heard some of the boys were allowed to stay overnight, usually with parental permission.

In her closing speech, prosecutor Sarah Mallett told the jury: “You have to decide whether the distress your saw from them (the complainants) was real, and, if it was, you know they are telling the truth.

“We say he preyed on each of these people, when they were young, and their families were in need, or in distress, or in both

“He took them in and their families were very grateful for that, they thought they were safe."

She said the defendant appeared to be, "a helping family man”, convincing those around enough to give him access to the children concerned.

But, defence barrister Scott Smith, in his closing speech to the jury, said: “Everywhere you look there’s a sinister interpretation, on the evidence, but it’s not what the evidence proves.

“You can, just as easily, look for an innocent explanation from Mr Simpson on each and every occasion.”

The 50-year-old, of Peniston Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, denies 34 charges, including six of rape.

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdicts, tomorrow (Thursday February 11).