THE principal of a Worcestershire children's home raped youngsters in his care during a catalogue of sex crimes committed over 20 years ago, a jury was told.

Brian Gillam, who ran The Uplands in Blackwell, near Bromsgrove, attacked girls aged between 13 and 15 and even arranged abortions for one he made pregnant, it was alleged.

The victims were targeted in a swimming pool, on a camping trip, in a bathroom and in Gillam's bungalow in the school grounds, said Rachel Brand QC, prosecuting.

She claimed one girl he raped then began having sex with the defendant in his car, his office and in a laundry room.

Miss Brand told Worcester Crown Court: "This was a man abusing his power.

"He was manipulating these girls, coercing them for his own sexual gratification. He engaged in a systematic course of conduct which was a gross breach of trust."

The offences against five girls were said to have happened between 1974 and 1983 when they were residents of the home run by Birmingham social services.

Gillam, aged 62, of Churchfields, Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, denies five counts of rape, seven of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child under the age of 14.

Miss Brand said the home, a large country house, took up to 30 girls and a number of boys from broken homes.

They were vulnerable youngsters with behaviour problems.

But Gillam, employed there from 1975 to 1985, began to "manipulate" children for his own ends, despite being married with his wife living on the premises.

Miss Brand said one girl was attacked in Bromsgrove baths when Gillam grabbed her from behind on the pretext of teaching her to swim.

Another girl he allegedly groped in a caravan in the home's grounds before raping her in the sand during a trip to Cornwall. She twice became pregnant, said Miss Brand, and Gillam took her to abortions locally and in Brighton.

A third girl, now aged 39, he is accused of raping in a bathroom after being lured from the home's TV room.

Miss Brand said Gillam would give girls cigarettes and alcohol at his bungalow and allow them to play music.

Miss Brand said a number of staff complained about Gillam but nothing was done by the authorities.

He was arrested by police in September last year and denied having any sexual contact with girls. He accepted that girls went to his bungalow - some in their pyjamas - but insisted it was to give them privacy away from the younger children.

Gillam denied ever being alone with girls. He claimed they invented the sex allegations to win compensation or for sympathy and attention.

The trial continues and is expected to last three weeks.