A man accused of raping a schoolgirl who then bore his child has told a jury that she had flirted with him when he was drunk.

Gary Mee, 51, of Chapel Street, Queensbury, admitted at Bradford Crown Court yesterday he had lied to the police when he claimed he had never had sex with the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. Mee said she had "come on to him" while he was drunk and that he remembered nothing about the incident.

He claimed the girl later told him they had had sex.

He was asked by his barrister, Gerald Hendron, why he had lied in his interviews.

He said: "When I was arrested, the allegations were put to me. I was embarrassed and disgusted about what was put in front of me, it just disturbed me so I denied it.

"I was so embarrassed, I have never been so embarrassed and disgusted."

The trial has been told Mee began abusing the girl when she was 11 and twice made her pregnant. The first time she miscarried but two years later she gave birth. Jurors were told DNA evidence has revealed the chances of the father being anyone else other than Mee are one in nine million.

Mee yesterday admitted he was the father but maintained he had never forced himself on the complainant.

Asked why he had lied to the police, Mee said: "I just couldn't bring myself to answer the questions correctly. I just could not believe the allegations had been made."

Mr Hendron asked him if he had raped the girl and he replied: "I did not rape, abuse or indecently assault her, no."

Mee has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault and eight of rape.

The trial continues.