A MAN on trial accused of sexually abusing teenage girls in Banbury told a jury he was “shocked” when he was arrested.

Mohamed Saleh gave evidence in the trial of seven men alleged to have groomed eight complainants between 2011 and 2013.

A jury in Oxford Crown Court has heard claims that he was a member of a group known locally as “BB or B2” that organised parties for under-18s to target their victims.

He is on trial with Ahmed Hassan-Sule, 20, of Glyndebourne Gardens; Said Saleh, 20, of Orchard Way; Takudzwa Hova, 21, of Broughton Road; Kagiso Manase, 26, of Warwick Road; Alexandru Nae, 19, of Broome Way; and a 17-year-old who cannot be named.

Our top stories

 

They deny 26 charges, including 19 counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault.

Saleh, of Orchard Way, Banbury, was yesterday questioned by his barrister Flavia Kenyon about a party where it is alleged he held down a girl who was being raped.

She said: “You have heard the allegation that (the complainant) made. She’s alleged you were restraining her while two others were having sex with her.”

The defendant, shaking his head, said: “No, no.”

Miss Kenyon asked: “Did you touch (her) at all that night?” Saleh said: “No I did not.”

His barrister asked: “Were you involved in anything sexual to do with (her)?”

Her client said: “No.”

Later Miss Kenyon asked: “What was going through your mind when you were arrested?”

Saleh said: “I was shocked.”

The barrister asked: “Did you do these horrible things to these girls?” Her client replied: “No I never did any horrible things to girls.”

The trial continues.