PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - An Ontario man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old testified Thursday that he was taking the girl to hospital when he was held at gunpoint by men who knew the alleged victim by name.

Stanley Tippett, 33, was arrested Aug. 6, 2008 after the girl was found half-naked behind a school in Courtice, some 70 kilometres from Peterborough.

The married father of five has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including kidnapping, sexual assault and sexual interference.

Tippett's mother has told the court that her son called her the morning of the girl's disappearance claiming he'd been carjacked. She testified that Tippett told her he came upon a girl in the middle of the road and as he stopped to help her, a man appeared with a gun.

On Thursday, Tippett took the stand in his defence and said he came upon the girl, who he said was severely intoxicated, lying in the road.

"I couldn't believe how drunk she was," he said.

Court heard that Tippett was talking to his wife on the phone while driving home from a day spent at hospitals with his mistress and her children when he spotted the girl. He feared he had hit her, so got out of his van to take a look, he testified.

While en route to hospital, one of the girl's friends asked him to stop the vehicle because she wanted to meet some friends, he said.

"She said 'you take her to the hospital,' but she's walking away very quickly," Tippett testified. "And she's not looking behind... that's all she wanted to do, leave."

Tippett told the court that after the girl got out, he saw two men standing in front of a car shouting something. He said it was the 12-year-old's name, and he believed they knew her.

One of the men threatened Tippett with a five-inch blade, forced him to unlock the doors, then entered through the van's rear side door and another man pointed a gun in Tippett's face through the driver's side, Tippett said.

"They were yelling 'get out, don't move,' " he told the court.

Tippett's testimony was to continue Friday.

Tippett's extremely detailed explanation of his version of that night was at times rambling and long-winded. At times, his own lawyer had to tell him to stop interrupting questions.

Tippett's mistress has testified that following the alleged attack, Tippett told her he had been carjacked and his van was stolen.

The alleged victim's mother watched the proceedings composed and focused. The woman, who cannot be identified, said she plans to sit in everyday until the end, despite working the graveyard shift.

"I just want to find out what happened to my kid, because she doesn't remember anything," she said outside court.

"I hope she never remembers anything."

Earlier Thursday, Tippett testified that the girl and her two friends were visibly drunk and that one of the girls told him the alleged victim, who is now 13, was celebrating her 16th birthday.

Tippett also thoroughly explained details of his life, from the intricacies of his hearing problem to his stints in Alcoholics Anonymous and jail and lies he told his wife about his extra-marital affair.

Tippett was allowed a copy of cellphone records that he relied on to explain the night's chronology, referring to them methodically.

The defence plans to call two other witnesses to the stand.