A secretary's duty involves lying for the boss as standard practice, a London jury was told yesterday. The cut and thrust of life in the City of London revolved around a stream of falsehoods - from insisting your employer was out of the office to altering the dates on crucial fax messages - it was claimed.

Ms Christine Allen, personal assistant to former oil and gas company chief Mr John O'Brien, admitted she created "cut and paste" documents to help smooth the passage of a £7.2 million sterling (€11.1 million) rights issue for London-based Alliance Resources in 1995. The stock market responded to promises of a wealth of natural gas reserves waiting to be exploited in Louisiana in the US and shares were snapped up.

But it is alleged that Mr O'Brien (45), of Midleton, Co Cork, staged an elaborate game of make-believe over the prospects Alliance Resources controlled in the US. Ms Allen told London's Southwark Crown Court that during her career in the City she had changed the dates of documents to help meet commitments and deadlines.

Mr O'Brien denies five charges of forgery, two offences of false accounting, and two offences under the Financial Services Act.

The trial continues.