A MAN appeared in court accused of indecently exposing himself to young girls as they attended a birthday party.

Sohail Tabassum appeared before Huddersfield magistrates yesterday via video link.

The 26-year-old denies the incident, which allegedly took place in woods near to Thistle Close in Birkby on July 24.

The court heard that Tabassum, also from Birkby, exposed his genitals to a group of nine girls aged 10 and 11 years.

Magistrates were told that the children had been attending a party at a nearby property with their parents.

But they left the house alone at around 8pm after being given permission to paddle in a stream at the back of the house next to some woods.

Carole Lawford, prosecuting, said: “It was light and the weather was nice and the girls were enjoying paddling in the stream together.

“But at some point during that time they see the defendant, he appears smiley and friendly and spoke to them.

“He asked if some of them were cold and did they want warming up.”

Keen jogger Tabassum, who wants to be a personal trainer, then allegedly asked the girls if they wanted to masturbate him.

Following this he allegedly exposed himself and the crying girls ran away from him.

The primary school children told a passer-by walking his dog what happened and he took them back to the house.

Their parents then called the police.

Tabassum was arrested but denied the allegations.

He was remanded in custody until the hearing before the town’s magistrates where he spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

Magistrates refused to grant him bail.

He will next appear at the court on August 26 for his case to be committed to crown court.