A father whose sons died in a house fire has gone on trial charged with rape.

Stuart Jenkins sons Lewis, seven, and Taylor, five, died in each other's arms during the blaze in Eastbourne last year.

They pair were overcome by thick, choking fumes and were found huddled together in an alcove under the stairs of the semi-detached house in Milfoil Drive, Langney.

Jenkins, 34, was due to stand trial on a single charge of raping a woman in July last year.

Two further charges of raping the same woman between April and July 2008, and between May 2004 and May 2005, were put to him yesterday.

Jenkins, of Milfoil Drive, denied all three charges on the first day of his trial at Hove Crown Court.

Smartly dressed in a grey suit and black tie, he watched intently as a jury of eight men and four women were sworn in to hear the case.

Judge Anthony Niblett asked the jury only to take into account evidence they would hear in court.

He warned them to ignore anything they might have since heard, seen or read about the boys deaths on October 4.

Judge Niblett said: "There are a few important directions I will ask you to bear in mind throughout this trial.

"They may be particularly important in this case, in which there has been media coverage arising not from the events with which you are concerned but the tragedy that occurred about which you will hear more tomorrow.

"It is your duty to try this case according to the evidence you will hear during the next few days.

"You should not be influenced by any external matters, such as media reports, whether before or during the trial."

He added: "There were, understandably, considerable media reports concerning the tragedy that occurred in October last year.

"The evidence in this case is for you, the jury, and nobody else to assess. The trial is expected to last seven days.