TWO young men, who have accused a former aide of Prime Minister Tony Blair of sexually assaulting them when they were teenagers, were in a "homosexual relationship" with each other, a court heard yesterday.

The trial of Martyn Locklin at Teesside Crown Court heard from a young man who claimed to have been indecently assaulted by the Sedgefield Borough councillor.

His friend had previously told the court that he too was subjected to sexual abuse by Mr Locklin, and had been raped by him.

Yesterday, the young man said he and his friend, both teenagers, had been having a sexual relationship together, and used to tell each other of other people they were "sleeping" with, which included a 63-year-old man.

He told the jury that he thought it was "normal behaviour" at the time, and said Mr Locklin had offered them both alcohol and cannabis, and had given him money.

The young man, now in his 20s, said he and his friend had visited Mr Locklin together once, and had both been indecently assaulted, and he had returned on "two or three" other occasions on his own and more sexual assaults had taken place.

When asked by Tim Roberts, defending, if he had ever told lies, the young man said yes he had told "self preserving lies", including lies to a jury in the past.

Both of the young men are currently serving life sentences for murder.

Mr Locklin, 41, of Ladybower, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, faces three counts of indecent assault against one boy, and two counts of indecent assault against another.

He also faces a charge involving a serious sexual assault, two counts of rape and one of indecent assault against a third boy.

The trial continues.