Businessman denies indecent proposal

A Perth businessman has denied an accusation he made an indecent proposal to a teenage girl, saying he was concerned about her.

Duncan Harvey Calder is charged with procuring a child aged over 13 and under 16 to do an indecent act.

On the first day of his trial in the West Australian District Court on Monday, the court heard Calder had been walking in the city in the early hours of January 19, 2008 when he saw a girl wearing a t-shift, shorts and no shoes.

Prosecutor Katie Goddard-Borger said police saw Calder, who was wearing a business suit, speaking with the 14-year-old and thought something didn't seem right.

Ms Goddard-Borger said Calder started walking the other way when he saw police and the girl told the officers that he had offered to take her for a drive and give her $500 to show him her breasts.

She claimed he also offered her $20 to buy food.

Ms Goddard-Borger said police caught up with Calder, who appeared to be nervous and sweating profusely.

She said he told them he was under a lot of pressure from his work as an accountant for KPMG, had just left the office and was out walking to get some fresh air as he couldn't sleep.

Calder's defence lawyer Sam Vandongen said his client spoke with the girl but said nothing indecent to her.

"His concern was to help her," Mr Vandongen said.

The trial continues.