Jurors in David Atherton's trial have heard lurid details of his "playboy lifestyle of group sex and cocaine", according to the Manchester Evening News.

The paper reports that Atherton faces five charges including attempted rape, sexual assault, making threats to kill and false imprisonment but the dabs.com founder denies them all.

According to the newspaper report, Atherton told jurors the complainant had offered him sex for money more than 300 times. He claims he paid the woman £500 to help with her household bills every time they had sex.

He spoke of meeting the woman for the first time 10 years ago, and it was revealed Atherton has been arrested before following an earlier accusation of assault from the complainant. The tycoon told Leeds Crown Court the woman offered to drop those charges for £500,000 but that he did not pay her the money, though the charges were dropped anyway.

Atherton described how the woman "weaseled" her way back into his life and often visited his house for sex. He claims they also attended parties characterised by "uninhibited sexual activity".

He also claimed he thought the charge of making threats to kill had been the result of the woman misconstruing his words.

The businessman claims he told her he intended "to do" her in the swimming pool, by which he meant he wished to have sex with her. Atherton also said he believed the complainant fabricated her story to make money.

The trial continues.