A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl was approached by a young man inquiring about the colour of her underwear, a court heard.

He then tried to examine her underwear before threatening the terrified girl, who fled the scene, Durham Crown Court heard.

The girl had been returning from running an errand in Barnard Castle, County Durham, last June when 19-year-old Mark Jackson was alleged to have approached her.

Roger Moore, prosecuting, told the court: "He asked for the colour of her underwear, but then went further, starting to lift up her skirt to examine the underwear."

Mr Moore said she shouted: "Get off", and managed to break free but was allegedly told that the next time he saw her, "she was going to die".

The girl ran home and told her parents.

With the help of a trained officer, an e-fit sketch was produced, which was circulated in the area and in the media.

It resulted in a police officer stopping and arresting Mr Jackson, who was said to have closely matched the description on the e-fit sketch.

"He was arrested on suspicion of having been the person who attacked the girl nine days earlier," said Mr Moore.

Mr Jackson, who has no previous convictions, denied involvement but agreed to go through the identification procedure three days later.

The girl chose him from ten men on a video "identity parade", but he continued to deny he was involved.

Mr Moore said: "There is no conflict as to whether this child was assaulted in this way, but it is whether it was the young man in the dock who carried that out."

Mr Jackson, formerly of Green Lane, Barnard Castle, but living recently at a bail address in Darlington, denies indecently touching a child.

The case continues.