An asylum seeker hotel resident attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl and told her he wanted to have a baby with her after she offered him pizza because he looked hungry, a court heard.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu allegedly made inappropriate comments to the teenager and her friend âwithout any encouragementâ shortly after accepting the food offering, his sexual assault trial was told.
Chelmsford Magistratesâ Court heard the defendant told the two youngsters âhe wanted to have a baby with each of themâ before attempting to kiss them.
Prosecutor Stuart Cowen said Kebatu had recently arrived in the UK and his âadvancesâ were rejected by the 14-year-olds.
Mr Cowen told the court the case has âattracted quite a lot of publicity because of the defendantâs personal circumstancesâ â with the alleged incidents sparking protests and counter-protests outside the former Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.
Similar protests have been held outside hotels across the country housing asylum seekers.
Somani Hotels Limited, which owns the Bell Hotel, will have its bid to appeal against a ruling that it cannot house asylum seekers at the site heard by the Court of Appeal on Thursday, according to court listings.
The defendant is alleged to have initially approached the two friends on July 7, before putting his hand on one of the girlâs thighs and attempting to kiss her again the following day.
Another member of the public, who the court heard offered the defendant assistance with his CV, alleges Kebatu tried to kiss her, put his hand on her leg and tell her she was pretty on July 8.
The defendant, of the Bell Hotel, spoke through an interpreter to give his date of birth as in December 1986, making him 38 years old.
Opening the case against the defendant, Mr Cowen said of the alleged incident with the teenagers: âItâs the Crownâs case he said he wanted to have a baby with each of them and attempted to kiss them.
âHe invited them back to the Bell Hotel where he was a resident, having recently arrived in the UK.
âThese advances were rejected and it was made clear to him (the girl) and her friends were 14 years of age.â
Addressing the alleged sexual assault on the female member of the public, Mr Cowen said: âShe came and sat next to the defendant when the group got up, and she engaged in conversation and offered to help him with his CV.
âShe then alleged he sexually assaulted her by putting his hand on her leg and tried to kiss her.â
Kebatu denies three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence.
Another man who was living at the former Bell Hotel, Syrian national Mohammed Sharwarq, has separately been charged with seven offences.
Several other men have been charged over alleged disorder outside the hotel.
Kebatuâs trial, which is expected to last two days, continues.
