Sex attack in broad daylight

A MAN deliberately targeted and tried to rape a teenage girl in the Spindles shopping centre, a court has been told.

Mohammed Hassan (25) picked out the young woman - 19 at the time of the attack - last August.

After firstly chatting, he approached her again shortly afterwards, pinned her against a wall and began groping her. He went on to try to pull down her trousers, telling her: “Please let me do it. I need to have a good time.” The jury was told the terrified girl had been certain he was going to rape her.

Guy Mathieson, prosecuting, told Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court that Hassan had clearly formed an attraction for the teenager, which wasn’t returned.

Hassan, of Windsor Road, Oldham, was warded off, but then exposed himself and tried to force her into performing a sex act.

When she resisted, he believed it was because they were in a public place, and suggested moving to nearby toilets. When he released her she ran to security guards.

Hassan has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault against the woman, now 20, and two counts of attempted rape.

The court was told he had never before had any kind of relationship with the woman. He admitted touching her bottom but insisted the acts were consensual, all down to a “bit of fooling around.”

Mr Mathieson said Hassan had tried to convince police the incident had been “blown totally out of proportion”.

The trial continues.