A horse healer has denied sexually abusing young girls at stables where he worked.

Dennis Minogue built up a reputation for treating horses and their riders for injuries.

People would come from far and wide to be treated by him, a jury at Hove Crown Court heard.

He said there were always people around when he treated three girls at different times between 1998 and 2006.

Minogue, 72, said he first began working with horses when he was a young boy in Ireland.

He said a Hungarian horse doctor taught him how to massage and manipulate muscles and bones to treat horses and ponies.

He also passed on his knowledge of how to treat Cossak riders who injured themselves while standing and somersaulting on horses.

It is alleged Minogue repeatedly raped one girl, who is now 23, after she saw him for a back problem when she was aged between 13 and 16.

A second woman, now 20, alleged he indecently assaulted her at stables near Crowborough between 1999 and 2001 when she was 11 and 12.

The attacks came to light after a girl of 13 went to the police in August last year alleging Minogue had sexually assaulted her.

None of the victims can be named for legal reasons.

Minogue said he had spotted something wrong with the shoulder of the first girl's pony at a stables near Crowborough.

She later moved her horse to the stables he was working at near Rotherfield.

He said he treated her shoulder because she could not raise her arm fully.

Minogue said he treated the girl in the owner's kitchen when other people were around.

He said she later injured her hip for deep bruising after a fall from a horse.

Minogue said he treated her in the stable owner's sitting room where people walked in and out all the time.

He added: "There was no sexual activity between me and her. I never raped her or touch her sexually."

Minogue also denied indecently assaulting the second girl at the same stables.

She alleged he told her she had an inverted womb and had massaged her internally.

Minogue said: "I most definitely did not discuss her having an inverted womb. Nothing sexual took place.

"None of the girls ever took their underwear off. I would not allow that to happen."

He said the third girl was interested in his healing work at a third stables he was living at near Crowborough last year.

He said she complained of a hip problem before she took part in a running race.

Minogue said he worked on her hips and shoulders and he thought she went on to win her race.

He added: "There was never any sexual contact. She is only a child."

Minogue, of Hadlow Down Road, Crowborough, denies 12 charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault.

The trial continues.