A jury in the trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting three teenage girls has retired to consider its verdict.

Mohammed Waris Ali, 46, faces seven charges.

He denies six counts of sexual assault and one of attempted sexual assault.

Three different victims are named in the charges, which relate to a period between 2014 and 2016.

On day two of his trial at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday jurors were told that Ali, of North Road, Egremont, would not be giving evidence in the case.

“He does not have to give evidence,” said his barrister Antony Longworth. “He has the right not to give evidence.

That does not mean in any way that he is guilty.”

It has been alleged Ali grabbed the bottoms of two girls on different occasions.

He stands accused of touching the breast of a third, who claims he also hugged and kissed her inappropriately.

Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone, opening the case, had spoken of Ali being quizzed by police about these allegations.

At the time, the court heard, he was head chef at Egremont’s Spiceland Indian restaurant.

“What he said during the course of that interview was that any sexual activity had not occurred,” said Miss Whittlestone.

In his closing speech, after all the evidence had been presented, Mr Longworth said to the jury: “It is for the prosecution to prove the case. They have brought the charges against the defendant.

“The defendant’s case,” he stated, “is ‘as far as I am concerned it (the alleged offences) didn’t happen at all’.”

Mr Longworth described the prosecution witnesses as “weak”, and added: “The fact that the defendant has not given evidence in this case does not add a jot to the prosecution case.

“What it does allow you and invite you to do is focus, as I submit you should, on that prosecution case; on each of these witnesses, to consider them as they are. Is it evidence upon which you can be sure that the touching took place, and that that particular touching was sexual?

“In all the circumstances my submission to you is that it clearly was not.”