Leg touching “was the norm” by a former boy racer facing historic sex charges, a court has heard.

Brian Gibbs, of Wingfield Road, Lakenheath, is facing 24 charges of indecent assault or gross indecency in relation to six children in Essex over a eight-year period in the 1990s.

Gibbs, 47, admits he used to be in a boy racer group in Saffron Walden and said he gave lifts to young boys in his car.

However he completely denies any inappropriate activity with them.

A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court heard yesterday how one victim was invited to take the steering wheel, a privilege often extended to the older boys during trips out the trial had previously been told.

The victim then told the court Gibbs put his hand on his upper thigh for a minute or two.

He later allegedly told the victim “if he had had his hand on my leg any longer we would have had an accident”.

The victim, now an adult, added: “He didn’t exactly explain but I knew it was not about the driving. The reference was that I would have got an erection and ejaculated.”

Diana Pigot, defending, asked the victim if it has been a joke, which he denied – adding he threatened to break Gibbs’ fingers if he touched him again.

Another witness told the court: “Sometimes while changing gear his hand would slip off the gear stick and touch a knee or leg. It happened to me many times.

“First of all I was shocked, nervous, I didn’t know how to react.

“After a while in the end it just became one of those things you would have to put up with if you were driving around in the car with him.”

During police interviews Gibbs, who lived at Ashdon Road, Saffron Walden, between the age of 17 and 30, gave no comment answers.

However in statements he said he was gay but had only ever engaged in sexual activity with adult males.

The trial continues.