AN asylum seeker allegedly twice molested a frightened young wife and told her he wanted sex with her, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Kurdish Kafi Mohammed Hussain, 30, fondled the woman and put his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. Her clothing was torn as she struggled with her alleged attacker.

Hussain was also said to have dragged the woman into a house, pushed her onto a sofa, grabbed her by the legs and kissed her.

The woman, from the Burnley area, did not complain to the police until later but went to see her doctor who put her on medication. She did not at first tell her husband about the defendant's alleged behaviour.

The court was told how Hussain, who was later interviewed by the police, told officers the claims were lies

Hussain, of Sackville Street, Brierfield, denies two counts of indecent assault, said to have taken place between July 25 and August 22 last year.

The jury heard how the woman claimed the defendant harassed her. She told police he told her she looked sexy and made increasingly obscene comments.

The alleged victim claimed Hussain grabbed hold of the top of her arms with both his hands but she pushed him away.

He then got hold of her from behind, groped her and puts his hand over her mouth. They struggled and her clothing was torn.

The woman said she had been walking past a house when Hussain grabbed her and dragged her inside, where he pushed her onto a sofa. Ten days later she summoned up the courage to tell her husband, who called the police.

Hussain told the police the woman had made up her claims and said she would have reported him straight away if they had been true.

The defendant, who said he was very upset by the allegations, said he did not know any sexual words in English nor the words for certain parts of the body.

He said he had not drank, smoked or been to discos for nine months and had not approached women.

(Proceeding)