A barber has denied sexually assaulting a young girl more than once, using cats to lure her into a quiet location.

Prosecutors said the Pakistani defendant, 30, abused the girl, 9, on May 11 last year and later times after seeing her playing with a cat near her home in Deira.

The Indian girl told investigators that the barber held her hand and told her he was taking her to a place where there were many cats.

She said he touched her while she was watching the cats but let her go when her brother, who was playing in the neighbourhood, arrived.

The girl said that three days later, she was outside playing with other children when the man approached and hugged her.

“Then he disappeared for a while and was not seen in the area,” said the girl, who told her mother.

Prosecutors said the man told them he had seen the girl but denied molesting her. He also denied a sexual assault charge in court and asked to be acquitted.

A verdict is expected this month.

Source: www.thenational.ae