Jerry Sandusky admitted he showered with young boys during a phone interview with Bob Costas

Jerry Sandusky admitted he showered with young boys but said he is not a paedophile during a phone interview last night on MSNBC.

In his first interview since the child sex scandal broke, Jerry Sandusky said: “I say that I am innocent of those charges.

“I have horsed around with kids, I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact.”

When asked directly by Bob Costas from MSNBC: “Are you a paedophile?”, Jerry Sandusky replied: “No.”

The former Penn State coach denied inappropriate sexual contact with children.

When asked by the interviewer about the allegations made by Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary – that Jerry Sandusky had raped a young boy in the locker room showers – responded: “I would say that’s false.”

When asked about Mike McQueary’s motivation for making such claims, Jerry Sandusky said: “You would have to ask him.”

With the allegations surrounding him, Jerry Sandusky was asked if he had felt “persecuted”. The former coach replied: “I don’t know what to say. These have not been the best days of my life.’

Jerry Sandusky also said that Joe Paterno, Penn’s State’s legendary head coach who was fired in the wake of the scandal, did not ever speak to him directly about his behaviour.

He said he felt “horrible” about the effect the sex abuse scandal has had on the university and its football program, adding: “I don’t think it’s my fault but I played a part in this.”

When asked by Bob Costas what he wished he had done differently, Jerry Sandusky said: “I wish I hadn’t showered with those kids.”

Jerry Sandusky also denied that he was sexually attracted to children, saying: “I enjoy young people…I love to be around them.”

Then, Jerry Sandusky, who is charged with 40 counts of sexual assault, was asked if he was a “monster’.

The former coach said: “I don’t know what I could say that would make anyone feel any different.

“If people could hang on until my attorney has a chance to fight for my innocence. Obviously, it is a huge challenge.”

Jery Sandusky’s attorney, Joe Amendola also defended his client saying that he believes in his innocence and would “absolutely” allow his children to be around the former coach.

Jerry Sandusky was seen yesterday for the first time since his arrest last weekend. He was sitting in La Guardia domestic airport in New York City, eating from Dunkin’ Donuts and ignoring taunts from passers-by.