Woman held captive in hovel for weeks

A man accused of keeping his ex-girlfriend captive for three weeks in Sydney has pleaded not guilty in court.

The 46-year-old man has been charged with a string of offences after he allegedly detained and assaulted his former partner in his Canley Vale house in Sydney's west.

The man's lawyer claimed his client had a "nice birthday celebration" for the woman's 50th, which her family attended, on February 11.