A TEENAGER broke down in the witness stand and sobbed when he was asked what he thought about allegations that he tried to rape a young girl.

Michael Hauxwell, 19, started crying and told Teesside Crown Court: "I think it is very sickening and disturbing."

The teenager denied allegations that he had tried to rape the six-year-old girl, sexually assaulted her or showed her and her ten-year-old brother pornographic material last Christmas.

He told the jury he had never had sex or a girlfriend, but he had a pornographic magazine and more than 100 porn images on his mobile.

It is alleged he attacked the girl on December 28 after offering to look after the children to give their parents a break.

The Crown alleges he showed the girl porn on his mobile phone and in a magazine and last summer he had shown the boy an adult movie.

Giving evidence, he said: " The allegations are not true. There is no truth in it whatsoever.

"I certainly did not try to rape her. I am certainly not lying."

Mr Hauxwell, of Crossfield Road, Darlington, said he had been playing hide and seek with the children and playing computer games with them on the day in question.

He said he twice caught the girl looking at a pornographic image on his mobile phone and also caught her looking at a pornographic magazine that he kept in his bedroom wardrobe.

The teenager denied showing the children porn for his own sexual gratification and denied he was drinking whisky on the day.

Under cross-examination, Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said: "There was a lot of sexual things happening in your house on the 28th was there not?"

Mr Hauxwell replied: "I would not say so."

Mr Dodds said that when confronted by the children's parents over the allegations, it is alleged Mr Hauxwell said: "I am against addictions."

Mr Hauxwell said he was referring to drug addictions, not sex addictions. He said: "I was trying to explain how high my moral standards are."

The trial continues.