Sex attacker 'licked his lips' at two teen victims during his arrest

An Indian immigrant accused of trying to grope two schoolgirls on a beach 'licked his lips in a dirty way' at his victims as he was being arrested, a court heard.

Satwinder Singh, 32, is said to have attempted to touch the breasts of the two youngsters, aged 15 and 16, in separate attacks just a few minutes apart.

Singh is accused of first assaulting the 15-year-old child while she was with her older sister outside the Harry Ramsden's fish and chip shop on Bournemouth seafront.

Singh allegedly asked the pair if they were 18 and was told by the complainant she was 15, to which he is said to have replied '15 or 16, it is OK'.

A short while later, he allegedly tried to group another 16-year-old girl, coming within in 'centimetres' of touching her breasts after she fell from a scooter while riding with a friend. 

Poole Magistrates' Court heard as he was being arrested, the 32-year-old accused looked at the girls and 'licked his lips in a dirty way.' 

Singh denies two charges of attempted sexual assault and has gone on trial. 

The court heard how the immigrant, who is awaiting legal status to remain the UK, first 'ran up' to the 15-year-old and her elder sister outside the fish and chip shop.

The pair had been on the beach with their family and had left around 7pm on June 17, 2023, to get food for everyone. 

Singh, who speaks limited English and requires a Punjabi translator in court, then told the sisters they were beautiful before trying to touch the younger girl's breasts, Poole Magistrates' Court heard.

Her sister told him to 'f*** off' but she said he pushed her away before a crowd began to appear. He then returned to his friends on the beach who were giggling and patting him on the back, magistrates heard. 

Shortly afterwards, two different 16-year-old girls, unknown to the first pair, were riding a Beryl scooter when they fell off close to the same fish and chip restaurant. 

Singh went over to the girls to help them and put his hands 'within centimetres' of one of the girls' breasts, the court heard.

A friend of the girls went off to find a police officers and Singh was arrested.

Jason Spelman, prosecuting, said: 'The 17th of June was a busy Saturday and the complainants were on the beach enjoying the nice weather.

'The defendant approaches the girls and is wanting to touch them, especially in their breast area, and makes comments that clearly are of a sexual nature.'

The first complainant said in her police interview, which was played in court, said: 'He ran over towards us and was standing right in front of us.

'He sprinted quite fast towards us, maybe 20 steps... He asked if we were 18 and I said I was 15 and he said, 15 or 16, that is OK.

'He went to grab my chest area and he said "you're beautiful" and I told him to f*** off and my sister said "don't touch my sister" so he pushed her away.

'I was just shaking and felt so shocked.'

The second complainant said: 'The two of us were on one electric scooter and were heading towards the pier.

'We fell off the scooter and onto the curb. When we picked ourselves up off the scooter this guy was already in front of us and he put his hands out like he was going to grab my boobs.

'He made a comment towards my friend but I could not hear exactly what he said.

'He also tried to grab my arm and he told [the complainant's friend] to get off the scooter but we then went off to tell our friends.

'You don't see everything that happens in the moment but I just thought "what the hell?" He just made me feel very uncomfortable.

'He was clearly trying to touch me. His hands were just a few centimetres from me.

'It could not have just been a compliment. You don't need to come that close just to compliment someone.

'A woman told us that there were some police officers and we should go and find them.

'More and more people were coming over at this point.'

When interviewed by police, Singh claimed that he rubbed shoulder to shoulder with one of the girls but not with any malicious intent as to sexually touch them.

Singh has been living in Staines, Surrey, while his visa application is being considered due to his wife's Australian citizenship. His wife works as a tattoo artist.

The trial was adjourned by magistrates and will resume on January 9.