A FORMER foster carer accused of raping a seven-year-old girl admitted he has had as many as nine children in his house at one time.

David Fielding is said to have lured the girl and a friend, who can’t be named for legal reasons, into his home with promises of seeing his teddy bear collection.

The 62-year-old grandfather is then alleged to have grabbed the girls’ wrists and pulled them into his flat where he sexually assaulted them.

Fielding denies kidnapping the girls, sexually assaulting them, raping one of the children and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

On the fifth day of the trial at Bolton Crown Court, Det Con Andy Darnton read excerpts from Fielding’s interview with police conducted on May 29 — the day after the alleged Bank Holiday Monday incident.

Fielding admitted inviting the girls into his flat in Georgina Court, Morris Green, describing it as “a stupid error on my part”.

He told police: “I’ve not laid a finger on these girls.

“I’ve even fostered children in the past.

“It’s complete and utter lies. I don’t know whether I’m more angry or shocked.”

Fielding claimed he had been having tea at his ex-wife’s house and and then returned home to watch Emmerdale on television.

It was during Emmerdale, that Fielding claims two different children tapped on his window.

He added: “They like coming round, a lot of them play with my grandson.

"I’ve had about nine kids in my house at once before.

“I’m also very generous. I always have chocolate in the house.

“Even my daughter says I shouldn’t let them all in.”

Fielding told police the girls then turned up outside his flat, knocking on his window and he started talking to them about Coronation Street.

He claims that when he told them he had a photo of actress Michelle Keegan on his wall, the older, 10-year-old girl asked to come inside.

He said they noticed his football teddies in his bedroom. He added that the younger, seven-year-old girl then went into his second bedroom.

He claimed the girls were in the house for “no more than five minutes” and once they left he said he put his feet up and carried on watching Emmerdale.

Fielding told police that he was not capable of committing a assault.

He said: “I’ve not got the physical capability of dragging them in by the wrists. My elbows have no strength in them."

Earlier, the jury heard from doctor Johan Livingstone, from the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, who had examined the seven-year-old girl.

In photographs seen by the court, she pointed out marks on the child's inner right thigh, wrist area and forehead, which she said were consistent with the version of events the girl told police.

Dr Livingstone also described further injuries she found during physical examinations, including redness in the genital area.

She added that the girl became upset during the procedure and was in some discomfort. Micheal Johnson, defending, asked Dr Livingstone if the findings were conclusive evidence that the incident had occurred.

She replied that they were not completely conclusive, but were consistent.

The trial continues.