The man, who cannot be named because that may identify the complainant, has been charged with two counts of committing an indecent act with a child aged under 16 years.

In the Warrnambool County Court the crown prosecutor alleged in his opening address that the man had been in a relationship with a woman for three years in the early 2000s.

When they split up the woman's children, a boy and girl, went to stay with the man and play with his dogs.

The girl, aged seven and eight at the time, slept in the man's bed while her brother slept in a spare room.

Some years later the girl told her mother the man had assaulted her, engaging in oral sex with her a number of times.

The man was arrested in April 2017 and interviewed by police.

During that interview the man confirmed the sleeping arrangements and said he would cuddle the girl.

He denied assaulting the girl.

The man explained that children that age experimented and he just let them get it out of their system.

Defence barrister Michael Turner said his client claimed the events did not happen.

He told the jury that he was very confident that when they considered the evidence rationally they would return not guilty verdicts.

The trial before Judge Michael O'Connell continues.

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