AN angry mother went to confront a pensioner after her three young daughters told her he had abused them on visits to his house.

The mother secretly recorded her conversation with the alleged abuser on a mobile phone as she accused him of molesting her children, Exeter Crown Court was told on Tuesday.

Widower Barry Midgley, aged 67, is on trial accused of 20 charges, including attempted rape, against three girls over a 13 year period.

He denies any inappropriate sexual activity with the girls, who all visited his home in Okehampton when they were aged six to 13.

Mr Donald Tait, prosecuting, told the jury that the offences came to light when the two youngest girls told their mother they did not like going to Midgley's home, where he had occasionally looked after them.

He said: 'They described the defendant as weird and a bit of a perv. In about 2013, the mother heard Midgley making inappropriate comments about the girls, particularly when he had been drinking.

'She remembered what they had said in the past and began to fear that something had gone on.

'She decided to send him some anonymous letters making allegations about what he may have done. She sent two, but he never mentioned receiving them.

'In November 2011 the older girl started to make disclosures to her mother and the others followed suit. She went to his home to confront him about the allegations.'

Mr Tait told the court the woman's older daughter went with her and recorded the encounter on her mobile phone.

The jury was told the recording, which had been handed to the police, would be played in court.

Mr Tait said the mother took her daughters to the police, where they all made video taped interviews.

Mr Tait said all three girls alleged they had been touched inappropriately at various times by Midgley.

One alleged he had tried to have sex with her after locking her in his garden shed and another said she was sexually assaulted after going into the loft with Midgley to fetch Christmas decorations.

Midgley told police there was no truth in any of the allegations.

The trial continues.