A BRADFORD man accused of being a multiple child rapist had “no sexual inclination towards children” at the time of the allegations against him, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard.

Martin Hostler, 49, is accused of 34 offences involving five children around Bradford while babysitting from 1995 and 2006.

He was arrested in June, 2013 when the mother of one of the girls he is alleged to have abused posted messages about him on Facebook, and the first of the five complainants contacted police.

Hostler’s barrister, Robin Frieze, said the defendant had received a two-year probation order after pleading guilty to three offences of indecent assault on girls in July, 1994. He admitted to a sexual interest in children at that time, but said: “I realised having feelings towards children was wrong, and decided not to do it again.”

The court heard that Hostler, now of Cumberland Court, Headingley, Leeds, repeatedly offered to babysit for the five girls in Cleckheaton and Bradford.

He said he hadn’t told the parents of his past because he “wanted to put in the past and get on with my life”.

Asked by Mr Frieze whether he felt himself to be a danger to the girls, or had any sexual inclination towards children at the time of the alleged offences, Hostler replied: “Definitely not”.

He denies 16 charges of rape, nine allegations of sexual assault, one of causing actual bodily harm, six of sexual activity with a child, and two of indecent assault on a female. The trial continues.