A top DJ used his celebrity status to entice young girls to his home where he sexually assaulted them, it has been alleged.

TV and radio personality Barry Bethell plied youngsters with sweets, soft drinks and gifts to win their confidence, a court heard.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how the 65-year-old then promised to help them with singing and modelling careers.

Prosecutor Tanya Robinson claimed that instead, he sexually assaulted the four girls between 2004 and 2008 and took indecent photographs.

Bethell, of Kimberley Grove, Seasalter, faces eight charges of possessing or taking indecent photographs of children.

But he has denied 15 other charges of sex assault, taking and making indecent images.

Ms Robinson told the jury they may recognise Bethell as “something of a celebrity in the world of radio, advertisements and voice-over.”

She claimed he used “his knowledge and experience of that industry” to encourage the children to visit his home where he had a recording studio.

Bethell offered to help the girls – all aged under 13 – by allowing them to make recordings and helped them with “breathing” exercises, it was alleged.

But Ms Robinson said he used the opportunity during their visits to his home to assault the girls with “inappropriate” kissing and touching.

She added: “They (the girls) were drawn in by promises of singing, modelling careers or voice-over work at the home where he lived alone.

“When the girls attended, they were offered chocolates and sweets and some non-alcoholic drinks.

“The girls were often allowed to use the recording studio to make CDs of themselves singing and the like.”

Ms Robinson alleged that he also offered to help the girls with “their flexibility exercises”.

She continued: “The Crown suggests that with this activity, he gained their trust and familiarise them to his touching.

“There were also breathing exercises which involved him touching them 'to make sure they were doing it correctly’.”

Bethell, she alleged, also offered to photograph those who wanted to become models, and with some he got to them to do “erotic” poses “of the kind seen on Page Three of the Sun”.

Ms Robinson alleged: “With one girl he went much further, getting her to remove her clothing.”

She added that none of the girls felt they could refuse his requests “no doubt (they were) won over by the treats and presents that he gave them.”

When the police raided his home in February, officers took away computer equipment which contained indecent images.

She told the jury that Bethell had pleaded guilty to eight offences, including five of taking indecent photographs.

Another offence involved two photographs of a child in erotic poses and a seventh, an indecent image of another girl.

Bethell has also admitted downloading 32 images from Internet sites, including Cute Angels and The Hottest Lolita Models.

Ms Robinson said one girl had told officers how she met Bethell when looking for odd jobs, cleaning cars or gardening in 2005.

“He heard her singing while she was working and said she sounded good. He mentioned the possibility of her doing a recording and she began visiting doing voice-overs.”

It was during these visits that Bethell would “hug and kiss her” and touching her, telling her it was part of “warming up her voice”

He then asked to take photographs, saying she could be a model,

Bethell then began buying her presents, like an Ipod, CD players, laptop computer and clothing, “which she took to be bribes not to say anything”, claimed Ms Robinson.

The trial continues.