A LAWYER sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl on a city bus while he was studying English in Oxford, a jury heard.

Haroun Mahamat Akai, formerly of Evans Court, Kidlington, but now staying in Perth Road, Dundee, Scotland, went on trial at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

The 30-year-old Chad national denies two counts of sexual assault allegedly committed on a bus in Banbury Road, Oxford, on August 12 this year.

Naomi Perry, prosecuting, said Akai sat next to the girl as she made her way to work at around 8am and started asking “personal questions”.

She said: “The Crown say when they were on the bus he touched her thigh in an inappropriate manner.

“When they got off the bus he walked after her and kissed her, which was unwanted by her.

“The complainant in this case did not want any of his advances and made that perfectly clear.”

Giving evidence the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, broke down in tears as she told the jury Akai had touched her.

She said: “I felt his hand on my leg and I thought, well, it is crowded that might have been an accident, so I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to create a scene.

“But it stayed there for a while.

“At first it was stationary but the longer it stayed there it started moving.”

The trial continues.