FORMER Kalamunda dentist Peter Taylor accused of indecently assaulting a former employee at his Kalamunda property defended the claims at a criminal trial on Monday.

Mr Taylor, also known as Peter Terzi, admitted to taking his former teenaged Kalamunda staff member home, giving her alcohol, a massage and falling asleep while hugging but maintains there was no indecent assault.

The court heard the alleged incident occurred at the end of 2023 after the two returned to Mr Taylor’s Kalamunda property after attending a work event and visiting several liquor licensed venues.

Mr Taylor testified in his own defence and said he did not buy drinks for his former employee at the venues but however did allow sips from his own during their night out and had made an alcoholic drink for them both once he returned home.

Prosecuting officers alleged the complainant was intoxicated but he maintained that during the night, the staff member showed no signs of intoxication though he had not been monitoring her intake.

Mr Taylor confirmed the two were watching television at the end of the night when he began to massage her head and neck.

Mr Taylor said during the massage the complainant began to moan while grinding against him while they were lying on his couch.

Prosecution put to Mr Taylor that the moans were not a sign of enjoyment or a sign that the complainant was awake, but he rejected the claim and said the complainant was definitely awake and consenting to his massage.

Then he said the former employee turned to face him on the couch and that’s when they both fell asleep, hugging, as both were tired from the night.

He claims that during  about 40 minutes of watching TV, the massage and to the moment they fell asleep on his couch, not a single word was said between him and the complainant.

The prosecuting officer alleged that after the massage was when Mr Taylor indecently assaulted the former Kalamunda worker but he denied the claim.

Mr Taylor said after the massage nothing sexual occurred and the two hugged and fell asleep on his couch.

The court heard that a loud knocking at Mr Taylor’s door then woke the pair up and the complainant was taken home by a friend who was a witness.

Mr Taylor said he was called to the park by the complainant’s friends and sister the following day where he was asked to pay $20,000.

Mr Taylor said he refused to pay and then afterwards the complainant’s sister and her friends gave a statement to police about the incident.

The trial continues.