A former Kingston man accused of lying about a 'VIP paedophile ring' reiterated claims he was raped by the former head of the British Army and Jimmy Savile in court today (July 3).

Carl Beech (51), who previously lived in Kingston, gave evidence in his own defence at Newcastle Crown Court in the ongoing case.

Mr Beech, a father of one, is accused by prosecutors of fabricating claims about a sadistic VIP paedophile ring operating in the 1970s and 1980s which he has claimed murdered three boys — accusations which prompted the Metropolitan Police to launch a £2 million inquiry named Operation Midland.

The former Kingston man denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud.

In court on Wednesday, Mr Beech reiterated claims that disgraced former TV presenter Jimmy Savile, as well as 96-year-old Field Marshal Edwin Bramall, had raped him.

Mr Beech, of Gloucester, also told the court he was physically and sexually abused by his stepfather Major Ray Beech, immediately upon he and his mother Charmian moving into the officer's Wiltshire home.

He said the late Major, who had a drinking problem, raped him in the toilets on a trip to a wildlife park.

The defendant told the court that Major Beech took him to Erskine Barracks, where he was asked to strip naked in an office while he was inspected by Lord Bramall — in charge of the UK Land Forces at the time.

Jurors heard how another man was there taking pictures, and at one stage General Bramall asked everyone else to leave the room, Mr Beech claimed.

When asked what happened next, he said: "He undressed me and it ended up with him doing what Ray had done to me, what my stepfather had done to me, raping me."

Mr Beech's voice cracked as he claimed Mr Savile raped him over a bath at a house after he and his mother had moved to Oxfordshire.

He told the court in the experience left him with a fear of bathing as he thought he would drown.

Asked how it felt, the former Kingstonian said: "Like you're dying. Like you can't, as soon as you scream, or anything, you take in water."

Jurors have been told Beech has admitted charges of making indecent images of children and voyeurism.