The man, aged in his 50s, is accused of grabbing the now 13-year-old’s breasts or vagina on three separate occasions between December 2013 and January 2014 while the pair swam alone in his private pool.

Giving evidence in court on Tuesday, the man categorically denied allegations he twice grabbed the girl’s breasts, or that he ever ‘‘cupped’’ the girl’s vagina when they were together, despite admitting he apologised to the girl’s mother for ‘‘any inappropriate touching’’.

He provided innocent explanations for each of the alleged incidents, telling the court he never ‘‘flung’’ the girl’s bikini top up, but rather it ‘‘slipped through his hands’’ when he was tying a loose strap.

Speaking of the alleged vagina grab,  he said he ‘‘lashed out and grabbed her wherever I could’’, holding her around the leg as she wrestled him into the pool.

The man denied telling a third party that his hand ‘‘might have’’ brushed against her crotch during the horseplay. 

He also admitted to twice moving the girl’s bikini top strap and remarking on her tan, but maintained it was an innocent exchange because tanning was a ‘‘topic of conversation’’ between the pair.

The man’s wife told the court she witnessed her husband move the girl’s strap on one occasion but said it wasn’t anything untoward.

Giving evidence in court the girl’s mother said she was distressed by the allegations and immediately called the accused man’s wife, a long-time friend of hers, to discuss them.

She told the court her daughter ‘‘bawled hysterically’’ as she recounted the events first to the wife, then to the accused man – which he denied.

The man later turned up on the girl’s doorstep and told the girl’s mother: ‘‘[My wife] has asked me to come back down and apologise for any inappropriate touching.’’

He denied it was an admission of guilt.

Defence lawyer Adrian Daly said the girl’s ‘‘view’’ of the incident had ‘‘coloured’’ prior interactions between them. Magistrate Susan McGowan reserved her decision until November 11.