A man accused of using juju magic to traffic children into prostitution has admitted he took a 14-year-old girl to Italy on a false passport.

But the former security guard, from Gravesend, told a jury the girl told him she was 24.

Osezua Osolase, of Beaumont Drive, has denied 12 offences of trafficking, rape and sexual activity with a child.

The married 42-year-old was giving evidence for the second day at his trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

He told how his German wife Gabrielle Wilfling was away when he met the Nigerian girl in London.

His barrister, Anthony Orchard QC, asked: "What were you talking about?"

Osolase replied: "Generally how old she was and she was asking about a friend who was staying at my house. She said she was cold even though she had a jacket on."

Mr Orchard: "Did she tell you how old she was?"

Osolase said: "Yes she did. She said she was around 24."

The ex-security guard at a Harvey Nicholls' in London has told the jury how he had agreed to "rent" passports paying up to £400 to allow women to travel to Italy or Spain illegally.

He said he received between £1,100 and £1,700 for making the travel arrangements through a friend who used a variety of credit cards, internet addresses and names to book flights.

The prosecution has claimed the 14-year-old was brought to the UK in 2011 and was to be sent to Spain to become a prostitute.

Osolase, who was working at a recycling plant, told the jury he took the girl to his home where she stayed in one of the rooms.

He said there were then two people at the house who needed false passports to fly to Europe - but he only had one and had to choose which woman could go.

Osolase said he decided to offer it to the first woman because she had been waiting longer to go to Italy.

His barrister asked: "Did you speak to (the 14-year-old) about money?"

Osolase replied: "Yes I did."

Mr Orchard said: "How much did pay she did you?"

Osolase answered: "To be honest, I don't remember."

He said the woman wanted to go to Italy and he expected to receive the balance from someone when they arrived there.

Mr Orchard said: "Did you know what she was going to be doing out there?"

Osolase said: "She said her aunt or her sister was going to send her to a school."

He told the jury he asked her to stay with another friend in London while he made the travel arrangements "as my wife was due to come home".

Osolase said in a previous incident the authorities had seized a fake passport from another women who was stopped in Italy and returned to the UK.

As a result, he said he decided to go via Spain to try to avoid detection by immigration.

The teenager – one of three to accuse Osolase of trafficking them – claimed she was forced to undergo a juju witchcraft ritual to ensure her silence, which involved having her pubic hair cut and fingernail clippings taken before swearing an oath.

Mr Orchard asked: "Did you ever perform juju on (this girl)."

Osolase answered: "Absolutely not!"

He was arrested before boarding his flight when three mobile phones, sim cards and other cards were seized by the authorities.

The trial continues.