A migrant has been accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old just eight days after arriving in the UK on a small boat, a court has been told.
Chelmsford Magistrates' Court was today told that Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, put his hand on the schoolgirl's thigh, tried to kiss her, and said he wanted to have a baby with her.
The migrant, who denies the charges brought against him, is also accused of inciting the girl into sexual activity and sexually assaulting a woman who tried to help her during a second encounter the following day.
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
Mr Kebatu's arrest on July 8 prompted anti-migrant demonstrations in Epping, with the local council seeking an injunction to shut down the town's Bell Hotel where migrants are being housed.
Prosecutor Stuart Cowen at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court said: "The court will hear from a number of witnesses that on July 7, the defendant was in Epping.
"The complainant, a 14-year-old girl, will state that her group were on a bench eating pizza and were approached by the defendant who appeared hungry.
"They offered him some pizza, which he accepted. He sat next to the girl on the bench and, without any encouragement, began to make inappropriate comments to her and her friends.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Home Office tells migrant hotels to house foreign criminals as 'full scale of horror' revealed
- Migrant crisis: Almost 900 asylum seekers cross Channel in bank holiday rush
- Labour minister grilled by Ellie Costello on migrant crisis as he claims plan is 'working' - 'There's three boats in the Channel right now!'
Mr Kebatu shook his head multiple times during the hearing
|PA
"He said he wanted to have a baby with the girl and attempted to kiss her. He invited the group back to the Bell Hotel where he was a resident, having recently arrived in the UK.
"His advances were rejected, and it was made clear to him that the girl and her friend were 14 years of age. His response was that 'age did not matter'."
The court also heard that the girl and her friends left and walked to a nearby Tesco, with Mr Kebatu following them.
Mr Cowen told the court: "There was no actual sexual assault on that date, but the Crown will say the attempted sexual assault was the attempt to kiss her."
Multiple protests have been in Epping outside of The Bell Hotel
| GETTYThe young girl claimed that she felt "really sick to my stomach" following the alleged sexual assault.
In a police interview played at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, she said: "I wouldn't think a full-grown man would think it was okay to do that. I felt really intimidated."
Mr Cowen said that a boy "came and sat between the girl and the defendant, [then] the defendant tried to get the girl to kiss the boy".
He continued: "She didn't want to do this because he is a friend only, but in an attempt to discourage the defendant, she kissed the boy on the cheek. She will tell the court that while this was happening, the defendant appeared to be sexually aroused."
The hearing occurred at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, Essex
| PAMr Cowen also said: "The woman was angry and confronted the defendant, saying she would call the police. He then ran off and she pursued him. We will see footage in which he was apologising, and gets on his knees as if to beg.
"As a result of her call, the police attended and Mr Kebatu was arrested. He was interviewed on July 9 and gave a prepared statement in which he denied any inappropriate behaviour."
The prosecutor added: "This case has attracted a lot of publicity as a result of the defendant's personal circumstances; however, the case must be judged fairly on the evidence."
Mr Kebatu glared at Mr Cowen from the dock and sometimes shook his head during the hearing.
The trial at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court continues.