A FATHER-of-four has denied using his mother's credit cards to fund a lavish lifestyle, denying all knowledge of payments for shopping sprees and Amazon deliveries.

Adrian Mackenzie took to the witness box for the first time in his trial at Oxford Crown Court today to contest allegations he defrauded Jacqueline Mackenzie out of more than £50,000.

The 46-year-old, of Rosedale Avenue, Banbury, said his mother had paid for various items on his behalf, including grocery shopping and a holiday, during a period when he was unemployed or poorly paid.

But he said she had always had knowledge of the payments and he had never had possession of her cards.

Mackenzie’s defence barrister Gareth James took him through the various payments the prosecution alleges Mackenzie made using the cards.

The car salesman said the hundreds of pounds spent on online shopping with supermarkets over a three year period were because he was struggling to cover his family's living costs after his business folded in 2013.

Asked about the money spent in Bicester Village in 'little sprees', he said he didn't know anything about it but that he knew his mother did take her grandchildren out to the shops there on occasion.

His mother signed the lease on his Mercedes car, and agreed to make the payments, and offered to fund a £2,000 holiday after he split up with his wife, Mackenzie claimed.

The trial continues.