A Kaipara man accused of sexually abusing children told police if he had committed the alleged offences it was while he was asleep.
Bevan Edward Tiller, 39, is facing three charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, one of rape and another of doing an indecent act.
The charges relate to separate complainants.
Tiller denies the alleged offences took place and a trial before a jury of eight women and four men got underway in Whangarei District Court yesterday.
Crown prosecutor Nicole Dore told the jury in her opening address Tiller's offending started in 2004.
The complainants gave interviews to police in December 2010 and Tiller was questioned by police in January 2011.
Ms Dore said Tiller told police Detective Andrew Bailey if the sexual acts happened as claimed by the complainants, it may have taken place in his sleep.
Tiller once told a complainant not to tell anyone about what he did to her or he'd get into trouble, she told the jury.
On the charge of rape, Ms Dore said the complainant tried to push Tiller away while she was being raped, but he was too heavy to be moved.
Earlier, Judge Stan Thorburn advised the jury to keep an open mind and to decide the case solely on evidence before the court.
A small group of Tiller's supporters, including his father, former Kaipara mayor Neil Tiller, was in court. The trial is set down for a week.