Magician David Payne, who performed at children's parties across North Wiltshire and helped at a primary school, raped a young girl at his home while his own children played in another room, a crown court jury heard.

Payne, 56, of The Street, Burton, near Chippenham, admitted he indecently assaulted the girl, now aged ten, four times but denied raping her.

The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was said to be aged between six and nine when he carried out the sex attacks.

Susan Jacklin, prosecuting, said Payne stayed at home to look after his children while his wife went out to work.

As well as doing housework and working part-time as a magician at parties she said he also helped out with swimming lessons at a local primary school.

She said in his role as a helper he came into contact with young girls.

The ten-year-old girl told the jury that Payne had carried out a number of sex attacks over a long period describing it as playing with her.

Speaking over a video link at Swindon Crown Court on Tuesday, she said he touched her indecently. On one occasion she thought she might have been wearing her school uniform when he touched her, she said.

The girl said he raped her while his children were in other rooms at the house. She said: "I started saying no. I didn't like it, it was horrible."

The girl realised what was going on was wrong and told her parents about what had happened, Miss Jacklin said.

The girl said: "He was telling me to keep all this secret but I told my mummy because I trust her."

Peter Fortune, defending Payne, told the girl she had made up the story to punish his client for what he had done, but the girl said she was telling the truth.

Earlier another girl told the jury Payne touched her as he gave her a lift home. The girl, aged eight at the time, said she didn't like what he was doing.

She denied she had made up the attack to get attention because her mother had left and she was having trouble at school.

Miss Jacklin said the third girl was in bed being read a story story by Payne when he touched her indecently. The girl, who was nine at the time of the attack, said Payne's children were sitting alongside her

The case continues