Bell Hotel resident is in court

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 has heard.

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Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu allegedly made inappropriate comments to the teenager and her friend "without any encouragement" shortly after accepting the food offering, his sexual assault trial was told.

Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday heard that the defendant told the two youngsters "he wanted to have a baby with each of them", before attempting to kiss them. Prosecutor Stuart Cowen said 38-year-old Kebatu had recently arrived in the UK, and his "advances" were rejected by the 14-year-olds.

Mr Cowen told the court the case has "attracted quite a lot of publicity because of the defendant's personal circumstances" - with the alleged incidents sparking protests and counter-protests outside The Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex.