A MAN accused of molesting two girls while babysitting them in the 1990s and early 2000s vehemently denied the allegations when he was interviewed about them last year.

John Whelan, 64, of Stamford Close, Toothill, denies indecent assault, rape of a child, oral rape of a child under-13, and sexual assault of a child under 13 by touching.

Yesterday, jurors at Swindon Crown Court heard a transcript read of his first interview – conducted in March 2019 shortly after the first complainant, a woman now in her 20s, spoke to police.

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Interviewed under caution on March 27 last year, Whelan initially answered no comment when told an allegation of sexual assault had been made against him.

He told detectives he had occasionally looked after the girl at his family home and at her house. But he denied any suggestion of sexual impropriety, including claims that he had made the girl watch pornographic films or made her touch him sexually as they played video games in what she called his “man cave” at his Swindon home.

A later interview, conducted after the second complainant went to police, is expected to be read to the jury today.

The trial continues.