The ex-nurse who is on trial for inventing a Westminster paedophile ring has come face-to-face in court with the former Tory MP he accused of murder and heard him describe the allegations as “wrong, malicious, false, horrendous”.

Harvey Proctor was called as a witness in the trial of Carl Beech, previously known in media reports as “Nick”, who denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud at Newcastle Crown Court.

Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor arriving at Newcastle Crown Court to give evidence
Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor arriving at Newcastle Crown Court to give evidence (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Jurors have previously been shown footage of a police video interview in which the 51-year-old defendant told detectives he saw the politician rape and murder a boy by stabbing him in the arm and choking him in 1980.

Beech, a father-of-one from Gloucester, also said Mr Proctor had been involved in the murder of another unknown child.

Tony Badenoch QC, prosecuting, had previously told jurors that the former MP would give evidence and “answer the false allegations levelled at him by Carl Beech, namely, that he is a sadistic abuser of young boys and a murderer”.

Mr Proctor, white-haired, wearing a grey suit and yellow tie, was called to the witness stand on Thursday morning.

Asked by Mr Badenoch about being named as a murderer of children and sadistic sex offender, he replied: “The allegations are wrong, malicious, false, horrendous.”