'Aussie Phil' Walton told a Plymouth crown court jury on Thursday that there was never a time he was ever alone with any of the four girls who claim he sexually assaulted them.

Giving evidence the 55-year old Kingsbridge nightclub boss said the sex assaults – which include allegations of rape and attempted rape – could never have happened because there were always other people – adults or children – present when he was with the girls.

When he was first questioned by police about the allegations he told them: 'I don't' know where it came from. I promise you on my life I have not had sex with a child.'

In court he rejected every one of the 13 allegations that the four girls had accused him of.

And when asked by his barrister, George Threlfall, why the girls would make up the allegations, he said: 'The first two girls – I have no idea whatsoever. I just have no idea whatsoever.

'I was just gobsmacked. I could not believe the names I was hearing.'

He also said he was 'surprised' at the allegations made by the other two girls.

And asked by Mr Threlfall: 'Is there any truth in any of the allegations,' he relied: 'Not a word.'

Walton was giving evidence almost two weeks into the Plymouth Crown Court trial in which four girls from two families living in the Dartmouth and Kingsbridge areas have accused him of various sexual acts upon them when they were variously aged between nine and 15 years dating back to 1993.

Walton, who lives in Mill Street in Kingsbridge where he owns the Hideaway Speakeasy nightclub, denies all 13 charges.

Walton, who has dual UK and Australian nationality, told the court that he had come to Britain in 1984 after meeting a English girl in Australia and following her back home and marrying her a year later.

They were still married when they came to Dartmouth in 1989 whereby they opened two shops selling 'models, memorabilia, T-shirts, all sorts', Walton told the jury.

He said they had 'got rid of' the shops and he launched his Aussie Phil's Austentatious BBQ Road Show, putting on barbecues for well-off holiday home owners.

Later he took over catering operations at both the Dartmouth and Torquay Yacht Clubs and opened a restaurant in Dartmouth.

He later worked in a pub in the Kingsbridge area and then opened a restaurant in Kingsbridge.

He and his wife Anne had two children but they separated in 2002 or 2003 and divorced in 2006.

When asked about victim A and victim B's allegations he told the court they could not be true because 'There was never a time that I was alone with them'.

He said there had never been 'less than three or four, maybe five, people there'.

When asked about victim C and victim D, he told the jury: 'I was never left alone with them.'

When asked about one allegation that he had gone into one of the girl's bedrooms when she was eight and touched her while she pretended to be asleep he said he was asked by her mother to check on her because she was supposed to be ill and she thought she might be 'pulling a fast one'.

He said: 'I don't recall touching her I may have checked her temperature via her forehead.'

When asked about allegations that he squeezed one of the girls' breasts and bottom when she was around 13 years old and then made out it was a joke, he said: I might have been a joker but it was verbal – never physical.'

Under cross-examination by prosecuting barrister David Sapiecha, he was asked if the youngest of his accusers was 'lying' about what she said had happened.

He replied: 'In my eyes, yes.'

Twice as he gave evidence Walton broke down in tears and had to be given time to recover himself before continuing.

Walton gave three separate interviews to the police after he was arrested and the various allegations began coming to light.

During the interviews he denied each one of the allegations the girls had made.

At one point he told officers; 'I am not a paedophile. I have never had sex with a minor.'

On another occasions he said: 'Aussie Phil is neither a paedophile nor a child rapist.'

The trial continues