Hughes denies sexual assault allegations

Former Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes took the stand in his trial in Sydney this week.

He has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges relating to the alleged indecent and sexual assault of five girls, which are said to have occurred between 1985 and 1990.

Hughes, 65, denied assaulting girl in her bed.

The court heard Hughes gave another girl a “bear hug” in the pool of her Sydney home to see if she complained.

The prosecutor put it to Hughes that because the girl did not scream out “that encouraged you to move onto more serious touching”.

Hughes replied: “That is incorrect”.

Under cross-examination on Friday, Hughes agreed that he and his wife, agent Robyn Gardiner, regularly visited a good friend’s Sydney home for barbecues and parties.

But he emphatically denied ever going into a bedroom where his friend’s daughter slept and rubbing his hand against her vagina.

And though he agreed the barbecue invitations dried up after the girl decided to stay home from a joint family holiday, Hughes says this was because the child’s mother took an interest in Ms Gardiner.

“She was showing an interest in having sex with (my wife),” Hughes said on Friday.

“I had observed that she was wanting to spend more time with Robyn in close physical proximity … we made the decision that it would be better all round if we did not socialise with them anymore because it was upsetting to Robyn.”

Source: ABC NineMSN