An Abingdon man punched a boy in the head when he refused to eat his porridge, a court heard.

Brian Johnson, of Gainsborough Green, is charged with five counts of child cruelty.

The alleged offences, which stretch back to 1996, include verbal abuse, smacking, kicking, punching and using a belt to hurt two children in his care.

Johnson, 37, denied all the charges when he appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, Monday, April 26.

Fiona Horlick, prosecuting, told the jury of seven men and five women that Johnson had "regularly assaulted" the children by using a belt - on one occasion a weightlifter's belt - or his bare hands.

She described five occasions between 1996 and 2002 when Johnson was alleged to have carried out the abuse.

The jury heard from one of the alleged victims, who gave evidence via a video link under the guidance of judge Julian Hall.

The boy said Johnson would shout and swear, and once hit him in the head when he refused to eat his porridge.

The boy, who was 10 at the time, said: "I was sitting at the table, I didn't like the porridge and I said 'can I take this back to the kitchen?' He said 'no' and I said 'why?'

"He got very angry, walked over to me and hit me in the forehead with his fist. I had a bruise."

Ms Horlick told the court about other times when it is claimed Johnson assaulted the boy.

On one occasion Johnson was said to have dragged him from a sofa and beaten him four times across the small of the back with a weightlifter's belt.

The court heard when the boy accidentally ripped a book, Johnson shook him and on another occasion, when the boy was jumping around in his bedroom, Johnson punched him.

The jury was also told a teacher questioned the boy about a bruise.

He said: "A teacher asked me and I just said that I fell over. I didn't want to say anything in case he (Johnson) found out."

The trial continues.