CLAIMS by a schoolgirl that a 36-year-old father-of-four embarked on a love affair with her were the "fantasies" of someone who had "gone off the rails", a jury was told.

Worcester Crown Court heard yesterday how Simon Bullock and the teenager had enlisted the help of her friend after misplacing a packet of condoms - which would have exposed the alleged affair.

During the hearing the friend told the court via video link that she had seen Bullock kiss the alleged victim in a "girlfriend and boyfriend" type way. Neither of the teenage girls can be identified for legal reasons.

But Bullock denied the condom incident ever took place as he had not used the contraceptives in years because they brought him out in an agonising rash.

William Rickarby, defending, accused the alleged victim of being a "disturbed young lady" who had collaborated with the friend to live a fantasy.

"The alleged victim had gone off the rails long before the alleged incident," he said.

"Once you have started lying about something as important as this, it's difficult not to carry on.

"My client is a man of good character without previous convictions and what you've heard by the girls has been a fantasy. The girl is a good liar and my client is not the brightest spark."

Bullock, of Manor Road, Clifton upon Teme, denies four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse in July last year, while his wife was in hospital. He also denies one count of indecency with a child.

But Malcolm Parkes, prosecuting, told the court the alleged victim had no motive for making up the story.

"Consent is not the issue here and it doesn't take a genius to work out how much more serious the allegations could have been," he said.

Mr Parkes also questioned the defendant's ability to produce evidence that he was allergic to condoms and claimed it was a ploy.

But Bullock, giving evidence, told the jury he had not been to the doctors about his allergy because he did not need to use condoms. The trial continues.