A former senior Royal Navy officer accused of a series of indecent assaults has told his trial that the alleged groping of a young sailor was merely a “stumble down the stairs”.

Charles Howeson, 68, is accused of indecently assaulting several young men during his distinguished career.

Despite complaints to Navy officials more than 30 years ago, Mr Howeson was given a warning and went on to have a lengthy and decorated service.

He became a first lieutenant and second-in-command on a ship but his trial at Bristol Crown Court heard claims that he felt he was “too powerful” to be affected by complaints against him.

Daniel Janner QC, defending, ­described his client as a man of “great integrity, charm and popularity”.

Mr Howeson took the stand in his own defence and under questioning by his QC denied being attracted to young men and boys or being homosexual.

He said he had been “appalled and hurt” by the allegations and told how he joined the Royal Navy at 17 and rose through the ranks to commander until leaving in 1991 for “personal reasons”.

He explained that he left the service after he and his wife had lost a child while he was in Gibraltar. Also, a tenant had “wrecked our house” and “stolen most of our belongings” and his mother had died. The “triple whammy” left him feeling he wanted to spend more time with his family “and a little less time on my career”.