A MAN accused of trying to abduct a schoolgirl has told a jury he was watching cartoons at the time of the alleged attack.

Christopher Howe said he had collected his two children from school and was at home with them at the time a 14-year-old girl said she was assaulted by him.

The teenager alleges she was followed and knocked to the ground by a man who told her: "You're coming with me, you little slut."

It is said Mr Howe, 35, fled from the scene in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, after the girl hit him with her schoolbag.

But yesterday, Mr Howe went into the witness box at Teesside Crown Court to say he had been with his children and partner at 3.40pm on December 14, last year.

Mr Howe, of Oakley Terrace, Bishop Auckland, denies the attempted abduction of a child. The trial is expected to finish today.

Yesterday, an alternative charge of common assault was put to the father-of-two, which he also denied.

Giving evidence, he fought back tears as he told his barrister, Paul Cleasby, that the allegations have ruined his life. Mr Howe said he was left devastated when he was arrested on suspicion of assault last year.

The former pizza delivery man told the jury of his movements on the day the girl, who is not named for legal reasons, said she was attacked.

Mr Howe said he had taken his children to school, gone back to bed then visited a tyre and exhaust garage at about 2pm and collected the youngsters at 3.15pm before the family had their tea and watched cartoons until he left at about 4.30pm to buy a packet of cigarettes.

Under cross-examination, Mr Howe denied he had been in a phone box the previous day when the girl said he wolf-whistled at her as she passed.

Earlier, the girl's mother told the court of an incident at about 10.20pm on January 3, when Mr Howe is alleged to have been loitering near their home.

Mr Howe denied being there, and a 19-year-old girl he is said to have been with also gave evidence that she had not been out that night.

The court was told that closed circuit television footage from a nearby pub showed Mr Howe coming and going three times during the night.

The case continues.