A PUB landlord groped a teenage waitress and threatened to 'make her life a living hell', a court heard yesterday.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court was told that Charles Cartwright, 43, of The Beaumont Arms in Kirkheaton, indecently assaulted the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in March last year.

Cartwright has pleaded not guilty.

The waitress, who was 17 at the time, had gone home after finishing her afternoon shift when she got a text message from Cartwright.

He asked her to go back in because he had just taken a big booking for the restaurant.

The court heard that when she arrived back at the pub it had seemed quiet. Cart- wright asked her if she would go upstairs to the study and do some Mother's Day menus on the computer and she agreed.

Simon Haring, prosecuting, said that when she sat down at the computer Cartwright came in and closed the door.

Mr Haring added: "The defendant came from behind and put his hands on both her breasts and told her she had a nice body.

"He then grabbed her by the arms and said: `Don't pretend you don't fancy me, you know you do. I'm in love with you'.

"He then put his hands down towards her zip and she told him to get off. She pushed him away, opened the door and ran out," said Mr Haring

The girl went downstairs and phoned her father to come and pick her up.

She went to wait outside, but told the court that Cartwright followed her out and threatened her.

She said: "He said to me that if I told anyone he would make my life a living hell and that nobody would believe me."

She added: "I did not tell anyone at first because I was scared of him.

"I was scared of saying anything to anyone."

When Cartwright was arrested three days later he told police that nothing had happened.

When interviewed, he said: "I did not go to the study with her. I did not indecently assault her and I did not touch her."

The trial continues.