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| Man told girls in Epping he wanted to 'have a baby', court hears | Man told girls in Epping he wanted to 'have a baby', court hears |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Hadush Kebatu is on trial at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court | Hadush Kebatu is on trial at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court |
| A man told two 14-year-old girls eating pizza in a town centre that he "wanted to have a baby with them" and tried to kiss them, a court heard. | A man told two 14-year-old girls eating pizza in a town centre that he "wanted to have a baby with them" and tried to kiss them, a court heard. |
| Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, allegedly propositioned the teenagers "without any encouragement" after accepting an offer of food from them in Epping, Essex, on 7 July. | Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, allegedly propositioned the teenagers "without any encouragement" after accepting an offer of food from them in Epping, Essex, on 7 July. |
| Allegations of the incident led to a wave of anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel, where Mr Kebatu was staying as an asylum seeker. | Allegations of the incident led to a wave of anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel, where Mr Kebatu was staying as an asylum seeker. |
| He denies sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and harassment without violence. | He denies sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and harassment without violence. |
| In court, Mr Kebatu gave his date of birth as December 1986, making him 38, but court records have suggested he is 41. | In court, Mr Kebatu gave his date of birth as December 1986, making him 38, but court records have suggested he is 41. |
| Prosecutor Stuart Cowen said Mr Kebatu recently arrived in the UK and the case had "attracted quite a lot of publicity because of the defendant's personal circumstances". | Prosecutor Stuart Cowen said Mr Kebatu recently arrived in the UK and the case had "attracted quite a lot of publicity because of the defendant's personal circumstances". |
| Protests took place outside The Bell Hotel in Epping after the allegations against Hadush Kebatu - who was living there - emerged | Protests took place outside The Bell Hotel in Epping after the allegations against Hadush Kebatu - who was living there - emerged |
| Opening the trial, Mr Cowen said the defendant approached the girls, who were sitting on a bench eating pizza, and made "inappropriate comments". | Opening the trial, Mr Cowen said the defendant approached the girls, who were sitting on a bench eating pizza, and made "inappropriate comments". |
| "It is the Crown's case he said he wanted to have a baby with each of them and attempted to kiss them," Mr Cowen said. | "It is the Crown's case he said he wanted to have a baby with each of them and attempted to kiss them," Mr Cowen said. |
| "He invited them back to The Bell Hotel where he was a resident, having recently arrived in the UK." | "He invited them back to The Bell Hotel where he was a resident, having recently arrived in the UK." |
| Having been rejected and told the girls were 14, Mr Kebatu responded "age did not matter", Mr Cowen said. | Having been rejected and told the girls were 14, Mr Kebatu responded "age did not matter", Mr Cowen said. |
| He said the girls left the area but were approached by the asylum seeker the following day. | He said the girls left the area but were approached by the asylum seeker the following day. |
| On this occasion, it was alleged one of the teenagers was wearing her school uniform. | On this occasion, it was alleged one of the teenagers was wearing her school uniform. |
| Mr Cowen said she became uncomfortable and when a male friend intervened, Mr Kebatu asked them to kiss before later placing his hand on her thigh. | Mr Cowen said she became uncomfortable and when a male friend intervened, Mr Kebatu asked them to kiss before later placing his hand on her thigh. |
| "She will tell the court that while the defendant was behaving in this way, he appeared to have an erection," the prosecutor added. | "She will tell the court that while the defendant was behaving in this way, he appeared to have an erection," the prosecutor added. |
| In an interview with police, played to the court, one of the girls said Mr Kebatu "kept leaning in, pouting his lips" at her, adding "he was really eager for a kiss". | In an interview with police, played to the court, one of the girls said Mr Kebatu "kept leaning in, pouting his lips" at her, adding "he was really eager for a kiss". |
| "[He said] if I come back to the hotel with him we can make babies," she alleged. | "[He said] if I come back to the hotel with him we can make babies," she alleged. |
| Asked how it made her feel, the girl told an officer: "I couldn't really move, it just shocked me. I didn't know what to do. My mind went blank. | Asked how it made her feel, the girl told an officer: "I couldn't really move, it just shocked me. I didn't know what to do. My mind went blank. |
| "I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't think a fully grown man would think it was OK to do that." | "I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't think a fully grown man would think it was OK to do that." |
| Epping Forest District Council secured a High Court victory temporarily blocking The Bell Hotel from housing asylum seekers on 19 August | Epping Forest District Council secured a High Court victory temporarily blocking The Bell Hotel from housing asylum seekers on 19 August |
| Judge Christopher Williams was also told a woman asked if Mr Kebatu needed help, but, shortly afterwards, he "sexually assaulted her by putting his hand on her leg" and trying to kiss her. | Judge Christopher Williams was also told a woman asked if Mr Kebatu needed help, but, shortly afterwards, he "sexually assaulted her by putting his hand on her leg" and trying to kiss her. |
| Police officers were called and arrested Mr Kebatu nearby, the court was told. | Police officers were called and arrested Mr Kebatu nearby, the court was told. |
| Molly Dyas, defending, said the asylum seeker denied all allegations made against him, but accepted being in the town centre at the time. | |
| On 19 August, Epping Forest District Council secured a High Court victory temporarily blocking the venue from housing asylum seekers. | On 19 August, Epping Forest District Council secured a High Court victory temporarily blocking the venue from housing asylum seekers. |
| The trial, expected to conclude on Wednesday, continues. | The trial, expected to conclude on Wednesday, continues. |
| Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |