An alleged member of a paedophile ring has admitted he was a 'terrifying, violent and cruel' man but denied any sexual abuse.

Ten 'seemingly respectable' people - including six women - are standing trial at Norwich Crown Court accused of subjecting young children to sexual and physical abuse over more than a decade.

The abuse is said to have been carried out against two boys and three girls and to have included forcing them to attend sex parties.

Much of the abuse is said to have centred around Marie Black, 34, from Norwich, who denies 26 offences, including four counts of rape and two of conspiracy to rape.

She has declined to give evidence at the trial.

All of the defendants, aged between 31 and 84, deny sexually abusing the children, saying the allegations were concocted by Norfolk County Council's children's services department.

Giving evidence, defendant Jason Adams, who has admitted four counts of child cruelty but denies sexual abuse charges, agreed he had been immature, had a temper and had treated children badly.

Asked by prosecutor Angela Rafferty QC whether he had been 'terrifying, violent and cruel' at the time of the allegations, he said: 'I agree.'

Earlier, he said he did not know where the sexual abuse claims had come from, adding: 'They're extraordinary.'

The court has previously heard how a trial scheduled for an earlier date was postponed and Norfolk Police were called into investigate after concerns were raised over changes made by social workers to statements made by the children.

In 2010, police dropped their original investigation into the abuse saying the sheer number of allegations made the claims 'implausible', the court heard.

Black also denies charges including neglect and ill-treatment, sexually assaulting children under 13, conspiracy to cause children to watch sexual acts and causing child pornography.

Nine others are accused of offences including rape, child cruelty, causing children under 13 to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault.

They are Michael Rogers, 53, from Romford; Adams, 43; Carol Stadler, 59; Anthony Stadler, 63; Nicola Collins, 36; Andrew Collins, 52; Judith Fuller, 31; Denise Barnes, 43, and Kathleen Adams, 84, all from Norwich.