A CHARITY boss from Herefordshire lured street children back to his overseas home where he sexually abused them, a court heard today.

Simon Harris invited the youngsters, some just seven years-old, to his home near the Kenyan town of Gilgil on the promise of cash and food.

The 55-year-old, from Pudleston, near Leominster, was in Kenya running a charity helping gap year students get into teaching in poor countries.

He faces 27 charges, including attempted rapes, relating to offences against 11 boys.

Opening the case at Birmingham Crown Court this morning, prosecutor Kevin Hegarty QC said the victims were living in "desperately poor conditions".

"All these young men or children lived in a very small town in the middle of Kenya, some 6,500 miles away," he said.

"The offences happened a short distance from the town in a house known as the Green House where the defendant lived.

"Many of the boys in this case do not even know their date of birth.

"Many were living a very desperate life. It was on these children that this defendant preyed."

The court heard Harris would drop off charity workers staying at his house - who there is no suggestion he abused - before driving the streets of Gilgil looking for young boys in his white Land Rover.

The offences are said to have taken place between 2002 and last year.

He denies all the charges.

The trial is expected to last until Christmas.