A sexual predator groomed vulnerable young girls at parties in his barber shop before subjecting them to months of degrading abuse, a jury heard.

Anthony Foster, 35, is accused of raping and assaulting three teenagers, two of whom he allegedly forced to have sex with his dog.

Foster, of St James's Park, West Croydon, is said to have befriended the girls, two aged 16 and the other 18, before "manipulating them for his own sexual gratification".

He is accused of three counts of rape, two of assault by penetration, three of causing to engage in sexual activity without consent, two of sexual assault, inciting prostitution and attempted assault by penetration.

Many of the offences took place in his barber shop, where alcohol and cannabis were "in ready supply", Croydon Crown Court heard on Monday at the opening of his trial.

Foster denies all 14 charges. He claimed to police one of the girls, a 16-year-old with whom he said he had consensual sex, had fabricated the allegations in revenge for a row.

But Edmund Fowler, prosecuting, said Foster spent a lot of time with troubled young people, and had created "a charming facade" to earn their trust before forcing them into sex.

Mr Fowler said: "It was under the guise of friendship and fun that this defendant was able to manipulate these girls for his own sexual gratification.

"Behind closed doors, he dominated these distinctly vulnerable young girls, overbearing their will until they would repeatedly submit to his sexual demands."

The court heard Mr Foster began a sexual relationship with one of the 16-year-olds, a young single mother, who he subjected to depraved sexual acts involving his large French Mastiff, Tyson.

In 2010, in his flat, he is alleged to have ignored the girl's pleas and pinned her to a chair to allow the dog to have sex with her.

Months later, the girl is said to have agreed to have sex with Mr Foster's friend in the toilet of his shop in return for £70.

Prosecutors said the girl had been reluctant, but was persuaded to so she could buy her daughter a Christmas present.

In 2011, Mr Foster is alleged to have preyed on another 16-year-old who he invited to his shop for eyebrow shaping.

After giving the girl cannabis, he grabbed her and began to unbutton her jeans, making lewd sexual comments, only stopping when a man knocked at the door, the jury was told.

The next year Mr Foster befriended a third girl, an 18-year-old, who later described him as "the nicest person" during the day and someone she loved spending time with.

But by night, when the two were alone, Mr Foster is alleged to have forced the girl to perform oral sex on him, raped her, sexually assaulted her with a beer bottle and forced his dog to perform a sex act on her.

Mr Fowler said: "She felt confused throughout her time there as she sought to reconcile the defendant she knew by day and the defendant who would take advantage of her by night. 

"Living... surrounded by drug addicts, daytime in the barber shop, laughing and joking with friends, was of particular importance to her."

Mr Foster was arrested in November last year after his first alleged victims confided in her mum, who encouraged her to tell the police. 

The girl, by then aged 18, had already cut off ties with Mr Foster, telling him in a text message: "You've put me in so many predicaments and situations that scare me and you have the trust to you, after you've taken advantage of me for the past three years. You're sick Anthony, don't ever contact me again."

The jury will hear evidence from all three alleged victims during the trial, which is expected the last two weeks. 

The trial continues.