A kickboxing instructor accused of sexually abusing underage schoolgirls in West Fife gave a ‘no comment’ interview to police, a jury was told.

Gary Lee Goodrum, 38, exercised his right to silence when detectives quizzed him about the allegations that he preyed on girls aged 14 and 15.

Detective Constable Gordon Cameron, based in Police Scotland’s child abuse investigation team at Glenrothes, said he interviewed Goodrum about a complaint made against him by a 14-year-old schoolgirl kickboxer.

He told the High Court in Livingston that he formally detained and interviewed Goodrum for the first time in November 2016.

After taking statements from seven other complainers he again interviewed the accused in February 2017.

Goodrum gave a ‘no comment’ interview on both occasions.

The jury heard agreed evidence that the eight alleged victims – all of whom gave evidence either by CCTV link or from behind a screen – were referring to the accused when they used the name Gary, Gary Lee or Gary Lee Goodrum.

It was also agreed in evidence that Goodrum leased a unit at Hillend Industrial Estate in Dalgety Bay, to use as a base for the Gary Lee Martial Arts Academy.

Following the police officer’s evidence, advocate depute Stephen McCloy told the jury that he was formally closing the Crown case.

He said he was discussing some changes to the charges on the indictment in the light of the evidence given by witnesses during the first five days of the trial.

Defence counsel Bert Kerrigan, QC, said he had legal submissions to make and suggested that the jury should be released until Monday morning.

He added: “It is my intention to lead evidence which I would envisage might last over Monday and Tuesday.”

Judge Lord Woolman told the jury good progress was being made with the case, which had been expected to last for two weeks.

He added: “We’ll review matters next week as we see how matters develop and unfold.”

The jury has heard testimony from eight females, now aged between 15 and 33, that Goodrum took sexual advantage of them on a series of occasions after complimenting them on their looks.

Goodrum, of Corsiehill, Perth, is charged with seven counts of using lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour towards underage girls between April 1998 and March 2009.

He is also accused of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl with nunchucks – a kung Fu martial arts weapon – between 1999 and 2000 and sexual assaulting the kickboxer between May and October 2016.

The Crown alleges that the offences were committed in vehicles and at addresses in Fife – including Gary Lee Martial Arts Academy classes run by the accused in Dalgety Bay and Inverkeithing.

Goodrum denies all the charges and the trial continues.