A preacher accused of beating children and sexually assaulting a girl fought back tears as he told a jury the allegations were entirely untrue.

William Dorgu denies three offences of groping the girl and seven of causing two youngsters actual bodily harm.

He is said to have carried out punishment beatings with sticks, rods and belts while running the God Cares Ministry in Bradford.

The allegations span a period from January 2003 until 2007, when Dorgu left Bradford to move to London.

Dorgu, 45, told Bradford Crown Court yesterday he came to the United Kingdom from his native Nigeria in the late 1990s. He was a religious studies student and hoped to qualify as a solicitor.

Dorgu said he first lived in Manchester but moved to Huddersfield and then on to Bradford in about 2000.

He told the jury he established his church at rented accommodation in Manor Row. He said he preached on a Sunday and wanted to help in the community and do good.

Asked by his barrister, Ken Green, about the allegations that he sexually assaulted a girl inside his church, Dorgu said: “It’s a lie.”

He added: “It never happened”, as Mr Green questioned him about the other two allegations that he molested her.

Dorgu said he was shocked by the accusations of physical abuse, saying he loved children.

Two teenagers told the court they were whipped by Dorgu, and that he made them choose an implement to strike them with.

A youth who attended Dorgu’s church on Sundays told the jury he screamed in pain as the pastor whipped him with sticks and plastic rods.

He alleged he was struck up to 16 times on the arms and body.

The trial continues.