An animal shelter owner has denied writing social media posts claiming to hand over his house, adding he was “set up”.

Chris Tucker, 59, told a jury that he did not even have a smartphone as he refuted claims he told people on social media that he would sign over house while fundraising to save his sanctuary.

The animal activist denies a charge of fraud after raising tens of thousands of pounds for Bexhill and Hastings Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.

He is alleged to have told fundraisers on social media that he would sign over his house, where he runs the sanctuary, to a trust in the name of the rescue.

However, the house remained in his name after the money was used to pay his ex-wife for her half of the house after they separated.

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Giving evidence at Lewes Crown Court sitting in Brighton, an emotional Tucker said: “I would never give up that whole house. We were looking at options.

“I gave all these people my login details [for the sanctuary’s Facebook page].

“I just wanted to save the rescue and the animals."

Tucker, who helped to set up the sanctuary in Chantry Lane, Bexhill, also said in a statement that the claims were “one complete set up”.

The animal sanctuary owner also called suggestions that he said he would sign over his share of the house “false”.

The alleged incidents are said to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

The jury heard a radio interview from November 2018 in which Tucker said “my half of the property is going to be signed over”, adding in court that he “still stands by that”.

However, he added that he was waiting to pay off a loan which was taken on the condition that the sanctuary remained in his ownership until it was paid off.

Tucker says that he intended to give half of the property to his daughter.

He denies one charge of fraud.

The trial continues and is expected to conclude later this week.