A TERRIFIED schoolgirl was allegedly molested by a man who pushed her against a wall in a back alley, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the man, said to be Ahmed Mohammed Karime, 26, started to kiss the 14-year-old and told her repeatedly he loved her.

She eventually managed to break free and run home to her grandmother, who called police. The man was later chased and caught by the girl's father.

Karime, of St Huberts Road, Great Harwood, denies indecent assault on July 5, last year.

Stuart Duke, prosecuting, told the court the alleged victim had been playing near her home in Great Harwood and began chasing a family friend on St Huberts Road. She lost the little boy and returned in the direction she had come from.

As the schoolgirl walked along the back alley she noticed a man walking towards her. She realised their paths would cross alongside a transit van partly blocking the alley. As they met, the defendant lunged towards the teenager, took hold of her face by her cheeks, pushed her against a wall and started to kiss her, repeatedly saying he loved her.

The girl was extremely frightened and began to push him away, telling him to leave her alone.

At that point the man released his grip on her face and tightly placed his arms around her waist, again pushing the girl into the wall, trying to kiss her and telling her he loved her.

Mr Duke said the schoolgirl, who was hysterical and very upset, managed to break free from the man and ran to her grandmother, who was babysitting.

The grandmother immediately spotted the man in the street and the schoolgirl pointed him out.

The police were called and advice was given to the family. Two days later, the alleged victim and her grandmother were driving along St Huberts Road when she saw the man said to have assaulted her. Her grandmother also positively identified the man.

The teenager told her father, who chased and caught the man. A scuffle took place as the father tried to restrain the man while waiting for police. Karime was then arrested accused of indecent assault and taken to Accrington custody office.

The prosecutor said the defendant was interviewed in the presence of a solicitor and interpreters.

He claimed his grandfather had died days before, he had been drunk and could not remember what had happened. Karime later agreed to take part in an identity parade and was picked out by the girl.

The alleged victim was later shown a white T-shirt with lettering on which was recovered from the defendant's house and said it was definitely the T-shirt the offender had worn.

(Proceeding)