A FORMER aide of Prime Minister Tony Blair denied he had a "conveyor belt" of teenage boys who he abused, a court heard yesterday.

The trial of Martyn Locklin heard the Sedgefield borough and Great Aycliffe town councillor say he had never had sexual contact with any of the three young men who had made accusations of indecent assault against him.

Jamie Hill, prosecuting, said that when one young man became "too old" for Mr Locklin, he replaced him with another, younger boy.

He said: "It was a bit like a conveyor belt." Mr Locklin denied the allegation.

The jury at Teesside Crown Court also heard from Mr Locklin's partner, Denise, who told the jury there was no chance that Mr Locklin could have abused two youngsters late at night downstairs in their home, one of them over a period of two-and-a-half years.

Mrs Anderson said she was a light sleeper and would have heard people at the door, or voices downstairs.

Character witnesses were also called by the defence, who described Mr Locklin as "honest, trustworthy and hardworking".

Mr Locklin, 41, of Ladybower, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, faces five counts of indecent assault against three boys, a serious sexual assault, two counts of rape. He denies all charges.

The trial continues.