A VICAR accused of molesting an 11-year-old helper admitted having a gay lover but branded the child abuse claims a 'figment' of the boy's imagination.

Father Michael Wright, 69, repeatedly sexually assaulted the schoolboy more than 30 years ago, jurors have heard.

Wright, the vicar of St Barnabas Church in Jericho, Oxford, since 1980, was also allegedly involved in a 'group rape' attack involving a number of men.

The Edinburgh-born clergyman denies a catalogue of sex charges at St Stephen's Church in Lewisham, southeast London in the 1970s.

The complainant, now 44, has also claimed he was plied with alcohol before being molested.

During his police interview after his arrest last year, Wright confessed to having a male 'sexual partner' but denied doing anything inappropriate to the boy.

He said the man accompanied him to this country in 1972 following a posting in the Bahamas.

The lover returned home in 1975, Blackfriars Crown Court heard.

He admitted the young church helpers would often make tea at social occasions at the vicarage.

Asked if they were ever given alcohol to drink, he replied: "Absolutely not."

The interviewing detective told him the alleged victim had also claimed that during game playing "he would wrestle and touch us".

He replied: "This is a figment of his imagination as far as I'm concerned."

Asked about the child sex claims he added: "I utterly and completely deny it."

Father Wright recalled being contacted by a colleague from St Stephen's, who relayed the man's claims to him.

Wright replied: "He said it was something to do with marital problems.

"He made some allegations against me.

"There was no substance to it anyway, so that was the end of it."

He also explained how he left the Lewisham diocese in 1980 to make way for new blood.

Rosina Cottage, prosecuting, has told jurors the boy made no complaint at the time because he feared not being believed.

The barrister said the initial horseplay turned to fondling and more serious forms of sexual assault in the vicarage, often after services.

"He continued going back to the vicarage," said Miss Cottage.

"Clearly by this time Father Wright would be aware he was someone willing to submit to what he wished him to do.

"Remember how young he was. Remember this was 30 years ago. A young boy and a vicar, who's going to believe him?' Wright denies six counts of a serious sexual offence and six of indecent assault between December 1973 and December 1976.

The trial continues.