AN osteopath accused of indecently assaulting 12 male patients has taken to the witness box to deny the allegations.

Stephen Milward told a juryon Thursday that the claims made against him were untrue.

Milward, aged 49, of Booth House, Bolton, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court where he denies sexually assaulting the 12 men, who include two doctors, a policeman and an airline pilot.

Susan Klonin, prosecuting, said the offences took place at Milward's clinic, The Natural Therapy Clinic, Atherton, over a 12-year period ending in 2002.

She said Milward took advantage of the men's vulnerability when they were on the treatment table.

Miss Klonin said the assaults took place during the course of a particular treatment.

Milward told the jury that he first established a clinic in Tyldesley in 1977 with an aunt and later moved the business to Rosedale Avenue in Atherton.

He initially lived at the premises but then married and moved.

By 2002, there were four or five different practitioners operating at his clinic as well as himself. He said he retired from the clinic that year because of ill health.

Proceeding