Dad-of-two Mohammed Asif Khan, 45, paid £56,000 to “Britain’s No1 porn queen”.

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He admits bringing shame to his wife, but told the High Court: “The company didn’t care what I spent that money on.”

Mr Khan, of Newcastle, worked for vehicle bodyshop North of England Coachworks until 2019 when financial irregularities were spotted.

He was quizzed and then he resigned.

The firm’s barrister Sam Neaman said investigations revealed Mr Khan had been using cheques and transfers to “steal” about £1.1million.

Around £160,000 went to “a number of escorts” — £56,000 to Gemma Massey, the court heard.

The 39-year-old is an OnlyFans model and once boasted of being “Britain’s best-paid porn star”.

Mr Khan admitted paying escorts, but insisted he did not do anything his employers of which did not approve.

He told the judge: “The reality is they’re not telling the truth.

“I was giving them (the firm) money when they had major cash issues.

“I gave them £800,000.”

But Mr Neaman said that, even offset by the amount Mr Khan has put in, he left the company £1.1million out of pocket over 6½ years.

Mr Khan said some of the money was a bonus he was entitled to and came as part of an unusual way of paying him.

The judge asked: “Why would a company be happy for you to spend so much money on prostitutes?”

Mr Khan replied: “In reality, it was my money.

“The company didn’t care what I spent that money on.

“The agreement we had was I could spend that money, that was mine.

“Unlikely as it sounds, they were aware of where that money was going.

“That was the truth.”

Trial continues.