A MAN accused of twice having sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl told a jury it never happened.

Christopher Garnett, 28, said he regarded himself as a brotherly, responsible, adult friend of the girl and was only ever alone with her two or three times. He claimed the girl had made up her allegations in revenge because he sent her a text message telling her to go away and grow up.

Garnett denied realising the child, who sent him 189 text messages in about a month, was besotted with him. The defendant, who in return sent the girl almost 100 messages, said he did not think his contact with her was excessive and he was just being friendly.

The defendant is alleged to have been seen kissing the girl passionately, to have told her how much he loved her, showered her with gifts and to have turned up at a house where she was babysitting armed with drink.

He stayed the night, they allegedly had intercourse and the children's mother was said to have returned at 6am to find him in bed with the 13-year-old and her friend of the same age.

The prosecution has alleged the two schoolgirls had been "drinking if not drunk" and say Garnett was more than happy for the alleged victim to drink vodka to get her into bed.

Garnett, of Brunswick Street, Nelson, denies two charges of unlawful sexual intercourse between last August and September.

Cross-examined by Judith McCullough, prosecuting, Garnett was asked about an allegation when he was said on one occasion to have had his hands all over the 13-year-old and to have been kissing her.

He said he had been comforting her when she was upset. Garnett said he felt it was perfectly normal and acceptable to go round to the house where the 13-year-olds were babysitting and that they invited him to stay.

He said he had gone to bed on his own and had not at any time been in bed with the two girls.

The defendant told the jury the contact between he and the girl had seemed to be getting a bit too serious on her part .

He had decided it was best to get rid of her as people were saying he was being seen as a paedophile.

(Proceeding)