A police doctor accused of drugging and raping three young girls has denied intentionally downloading child porn onto his computer.

During his final day of cross-examination, Robert Wells (52), of Hangleton Road, Hove, told Winchester Crown Court that any such images would have originated from junk e-mails.

His former girlfriend had previously told the court that he had clearly shown her child porn on his computer.

Wells denies abusing the girls, aged between five and 11, at his flat in St Denys, Southampton, and filming himself in the process.

He said: "It is common to receive e-mails suggesting you visit pornographic sites. It's also not uncommon to have e-mails that seem innocuous but, when you click on them, take you to a pornographic site."

Wells said the e-mail he showed his girlfriend, which allegedly featured a child having sexual intercourse, had appeared innocent at first.

Prosecuting, Stephen Parish, said: "You quite gleefully showed your girlfriend some grossly pornographic material, child pornography which is worse, and she was disgusted."

Wells maintained that his girlfriend had just glanced at it and had got the wrong impression.

Police examined all Wells' computer equipment after he was arrested but it is alleged that he had already wiped much of the evidence. Wells also claimed that he had no idea how deleted images of babies being abused got onto his computer.

Wells worked as a police doctor in Winchester and Southampton and had a private practice in Brighton.

He denies 11 charges including three counts of rape, five indecent assaults, one offence of making indecent photographs and two of administering drugs.

Proceeding