A door-to-door salesman is on trial at Bradford Crown Court accused of sexually abusing four children.

Stephen Brent, 57, is alleged to have touched three girls and repeatedly pinched a boy on the bottom.

He pleads not guilty to 17 allegations of sexual assault, said to have taken place when he was living in Farsley, Leeds.

Brent, now of Tempest Road, Beeston, Leeds, says the youngsters lied about him to the police and nothing inappropriate ever happened.

Prosecutor Gerald Hendron told the court yesterday that the first alleged victim to make a complaint said Brent sexually assaulted her when she was visiting his home at the age of nine or ten.

The jury was told the three other children then came forward.

A schoolgirl told the police Brent called her “gorgeous” when she went to the house and touched her indecently.

She said she felt frightened and confused. She was too scared to say anything and struggled with her schoolwork.

Mr Hendron said the boy cried when he told a youth justice worker Brent thought it funny to nip his bottom.

Brent was arrested last year and interviewed at Pudsey police station, where he denied all the allegations.

The trial continues.