The barrister asked Donaldson if he did not see “anything strange” about the approach from Mr Hoy

Donaldson also told how his wife had been "devastated" when he had an affair in 2008

The former DUP leader read extracts of the letter to the court when he was in the witness box on Thursday

Jury hears further police interviews with the Donaldsons following their arrest in March 2024

On Monday, the jury of five women and seven men heard that Donaldson had been interviewed by police for four and a half hours following his arrest in the early hours of March 28 2024.

The case involving the former DUP Leader has now entered its second week at Newry Crown Court

On Friday, the jury of five women and seven men heard evidence from Laura Claire Selfridge, who is the daughter of David and Linda Hoy, who founded the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, Co Antrim

The witness said his partner had “gone into detail”, stating that Donaldson had inappropriately touched her “on a number of occasions” and that he kissed her and “put his tongue down her mouth”.

Warning: Contains graphic content. She said: “I remember I couldn’t tell anybody, I remember telling my imaginary friend.”

Complainant A also rejected suggestions by a barrister that she is “making this up as you go along” in relation to the allegations.

Kieran Vaughan KC asked the woman why she had not handed the letter to police when she had first been interviewed.

Challenged by a barrister over “inconsistencies” between her evidence in court and what she had told a police officer, Complainant A insisted “the facts are the facts”.

Complainant A said: “To imply someone would dream things without a reason is ridiculous, it is insulting.”

The jury heard he described himself in the letter as a “sinner” and had failed to address his “sinful nature for far too many years”.

Complainant A said she became "very angry" and said she had “spent her life watching him in a public role, getting accolade after accolade”.

The trial is expected to last between three and four weeks.

The judge told jurors: "He is entitled to the same fair trial as everyone else."

Police had erected metal barriers at the court entrance prior to his arrival to cordon off the waiting media.

"Publishing information which could directly or indirectly identify complainants is a criminal offence"

From Ched Evans to a former senior BBC employee convicted of possessing indecent images, these are some of the clients Kieran Vaughan has represented

The judge had earlier ruled that Eleanor Donaldson is unfit to be tried after hearing medical evidence.

Eleanor Donaldson is now set to face a trial of the facts – a process that tests the evidence in the case but cannot result in her being criminally convicted

Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

Judge Paul Ramsey acknowledged that “genuine medical evidence” remained outstanding

The Attorney General has warned the public about social media posts and commentary on active criminal proceedings

Here is your latest round up of cases heard at court from March 23-27

A new trial date of May 26 has been set