A MAN accused of indecently touching two teenage girls has denied being “a dirty old man”.

The suggestion was put to 60-year-old Leonard Michael Young as he gave evidence on the fifth day of a trial at Durham Crown Court.

Mr Young repeated his previous denials over the two alleged indecency incidents.

He also denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by intimidating a witness at a previous hearing into the original sex assault charge, at Teesside Crown Court, last September.

The jury at Teesside failed to reach a verdict in that case and it is being re-tried at Durham, along with two further charges of sexual assault, relating to a second girl, plus witness intimidation.

Mr Young, of Ventnor Avenue, Hartlepool, denies all the charges.

During cross-examination, prosecuting barrister Robin Turton, referring to the charge involving one of the girls, said to the defendant: “You were molesting, groping, rubbing up and down and making obscene comments to her. You were living out some sort of perverted fantasies, getting your kicks, weren’t you?

Mr Young said: “No.”

Mr Turton said: “So, it’s a figment of her imagination, then?”

Mr Young said: “It must be.”

Mr Turton said: “You can’t help yourself, you have abnormal urges. You’re a dirty old man and can’t keep your hands to yourself?”

Mr Young again replied: “No”.

The trial continues.