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A Gloucestershire man accused of having sex with his ex-wife's bull mastiff dog has told a court the allegation is a "total lie".

Kelly Thacker claims to have found her ex-husband Nicholas Saunders, 46, in her bed having intercourse with the animal on January 15 last year.

Ms Thacker, who has teenage twins with Saunders, told Gloucester Crown Court on Monday she had rejected Saunders' advances towards her and was shocked to find him having sex with her dog, Sasha, soon afterwards.

But today the father-of-three said he merely "tolerated" his ex-wife for the sake of their children and it was in fact Ms Thacker who had been wanting to get back together with him.

He said he was in total shock following the allegation and denied having sex with the dog.

The court heard Saunders, who had remained on good terms with his ex-wife, went to her house following an argument with his girlfriend who was bi-polar.

Saunders told the court they watched TV for a short time before he got undressed to go to sleep. He said: "I was woken by the dog, Sasha, licking my face. I pushed her away as I'm not a fan of that, and got up to use the toilet. As I got up to use the toilet Kelly came into the bedroom and started having a go at me...I thought she was a nutcase. Mad. I changed and left."

Saunders said he slept in his van overnight before going to work, where he was arrested that afternoon. He was taken to Stroud Police Station where he was interviewed under caution.

Following the interview Saunders provided police with an "intimate sample" - a swab taken from his penis. Forensic examination later showed a 100% match for the DNA of a domestic dog, although the court heard it was not possible to tell the type of dog, its sex or the source of the DNA.

Sarah Jenkins, defending, asked Saunders why he had provided the sample. He replied: "I had nothing to hide. I hadn't done anything."

Saunders, from Fairford, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, has pleaded not guilty to having intercourse with an animal.

Frank Abbott, prosecuting, said it was an "incredible coincidence" that DNA was found on a "fairly inaccessible" part of Saunders, backing up what Ms Thacker told the court she had seen.

Saunders said: "She's made up a lying story and has been incredibly lucky."

Mr Abbott went on: "Do you seriously suggest that someone would make up a story about you having sex with a dog to get their own back just because you wouldn't have sex with them?"

Saunders replied: "With her it doesn't surprise me, yes,"

Summing up the case Mr Abbott told the jury that for Ms Thacker to have made up the allegation would be an "unbelievable, wicked thing to do".

He added: "Why on earth would she suddenly turn around and make up this awful story?"