A police doctor accused of drugging and sexually assaulting three young schoolgirls had illegal child pornography on his computer, a court has heard.

Robert Wells denies abusing the children, aged between five and 11, while they were guests at his flat in St Denys, Southampton.

However, a forensic computer expert for the prosecution told Winchester Crown Court how he had recovered hidden files on Wells's computer containing illegal images. Professor Anthony Samms told the jury about special software programmes used by people wanting to hide or permanently delete things from their computers.

He said he had found evidence of these programmes on computers recovered from Wells's second home in Hangleton Road, Hove, adding that detailed searches of the machine had unearthed several names of newsgroups relating to child abuse.

Professor Samms was asked about images found on the computer's hard drive. He told the jury how, although most of the pictures had been deleted or hidden and encrypted, he had found bits of files which he had then been able to reconstruct.

"I found three images that were black and white images of a very young female baby with a concentration on the lower half of her body and with her being inappropriately touched."

He added there were also pictures of another girl of a similar age being raped, as well as pictures of a slightly older girl also being raped. Asked about films, he said: "I was able to reconstruct one moving picture file. It showed another young naked under-age girl being sexually assaulted."

On Tuesday, the court heard from Wells's former partner, Michelle Miles, who had had a five-year relationship with the 52-year-old until 1994 and also had a child with him. She told the court how she helped decipher a timetable of abuse he is said to have written.

After Wells's arrest on February 28th last year, she had been asked by the police to try to read a handwritten note found in his Southampton flat. It is said to detail plans drawn up by Wells for what he was going to do to the children.

Mrs Miles outlined words and phrases, including references to getting dressed-up, preparing a powder, checking a blindfold and setting up a room and camera. An entry for 9.30pm used the words "tieup", "bad", "film", "little Miss Naughty", "kiss lips" and "cut off all so naked".

Under cross-examination, Mrs Miles also said she had never suspected Wells of harming their child and that he had always been extremely kind and generous to her and her family.

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

Proceeding