A GRANDFATHER accused of a series of historic sexual assaults and rapes told cops one of the teenage girls had made up the allegations because her father was “gunning for him”.

A jury at the High Court in Livingston heard that David Ferguson protested his innocence when detectives quizzed him about alleged offences.

And when he was charged with raping and abusing one of the girls, when she was a 15-year-old schoolgirl, he replied: “It’s all lies. It’s all lies.” The woman, now aged 20, alleged that she was frequently subjected to sexual assaults in Ferguson’s home in Fife and on one occasion was kissed and groped by him in a common stairwell near Cowdenbeath High Street.

She claimed he raped in of his home when she was aged 14 and on her 15th birthday.

The other alleged victim, now aged 24, claimed earlier that Ferguson indecently assaulted and raped her on numerous occasions when she was aged between four and 12 years-old.

Ferguson (60), who walks with a stick, denies three charges of rape, two indecent assaults and one charge of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour dating back 20 years.

The crown alleges that the offences were committed at his home in Blamey Crescent, Cowdenbeath, and at other locations in Fife between August 27, 1994 and January 16, 2009.of Police Scotland in Glenrothes, Fife, read from a transcript of a one and a half hour interview with Ferguson.

She said he had declined legal advice before answering questions put to him about incidents involving the 20-year-old woman.

Asked if he’d pulled her trousers down and sexually assaulted her, he answered, “No, no, that’s lies. I don’t know where you’re getting all this from.” He told officers the allegations were “all rubbish” and that he would go to court to clear his name.

He went on, “This has all come about since she got back with her dad, ‘cos her dad hates me.

“He got fined GBP100 in court for threatening me. It’s obvious he’s trying to get me for something but that’s all lies.

“He’s gunning for me because I got him charged.” The girl’s father, however, denied that he had any grudge against Ferguson.

The 49-year-old bus driver from Dunfermline, who now lives in London, said he had not had contact with either his daughter or the accused for 15 years.

WHen he got back in touch with the girl via the Child Support Agency after she turned 16, he said he asked her if Ferguson had ever "done anything” to her and she answered: “yes”.

He took her to the police to report the alleged abuse and she was interviewed.

The trial, before Lord Kinclaven, continues.