A MAN accused of a string of sex offences against children, mainly boys, told a court he is, “honest and soft-hearted”, and “likes to help people”.

Stanley Simpson was speaking from the witness stand, answering questions put by prosecuting counsel Sarah Mallett, on the ninth day of his Durham Crown Court trial.

The 50-year-old former advice centre worker denies a total of 34 counts, including six of rape, said to have been committed on seven victims, five boys and two girls, over two decades from1980.

It is alleged the offences were carried out on young people, aged eight to 15, invited to stay over at his home, variously in the Pennywell area of Sunderland and in Ouston, near Chester-le-Street.

Opening her cross-examination, Miss Mallet said: “You, it seems, convinced five mothers and, on one occasion, the police, that children were safe in your care.

“How did you do that?”

“Are you a very persuasive person. Are you very convincing?”

He replied: “I’m an honest person.”

Miss Mallett said: “Why did you want all those children to come to stay with you?”

Simpson responded: “It wasn’t like that.

“It may have ended up like that, but it wasn’t sinister, or anything like that.”

Asked why he wanted them there, he replied: “I’ve got a soft heart and I help people.”

Miss Mallett said: “Five men have spoken of sexual abuse of them, of the terrible and lasting damage you have caused.

“Why have they done that?”

Simpson replied: “I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening in their lives.”

He added that he could not account for their descriptions of what they said took place.

Simpson, of Peniston Road, Pennywell, will return to court for the end of the defence case, on Monday (February 8).