A MOSQUE worker, who denies sexually abusing two young boys, yesterday knelt on a courtroom floor to demonstrate how one of them accidentally touched his belt.

Yasir Muhammed Hafiz, 31, is alleged to have hugged and tickled the boys, aged 12 and nine, in a sexual manner, kissed one of them and put their hands on his private parts.

Hafiz, of Daleside Walk, West Bowling, who works at the Madrassah Nur Qur'an, in Parkside Road, West Bowling, pleads not guilty to nine charges of sexually assaulting a child under 13, and seven of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between January 1, 2014, and February 13 this year.

Yesterday, Hafiz, giving evidence through an interpreter, told the jury at Bradford Crown Court that an accusation, that he had taken the nine-year-old's hand and tried to put it on his private parts, was a lie. He also denied a claim that he had put his hand under the boy's bottom.

Questioned by his barrister, David McGonigal, Hafiz said the boy's mother had phoned him and told him about her son's bad behaviour, and he had spoken to the boy and told him to respect his parents and apologise to his mother.

Asked about the older boy, Hafiz said he had never tickled him under his top, or nipped him.

Mr McGonigal asked: "He has suggested you would try to put his hand on your penis. Did that happen?" Hafiz replied: "No."

The defendant said that on one occasion the 12-year-old tried to grab a phone from him but was unable, and touched his belt, which was near to his knee under his long shirt. The boy then alleged he had touched Hafiz's private parts.

He was asked to demonstrate what happened, and knelt down in the well of the court and pulled his shirt aside to show his belt.

Cross-examined by prosecutor Michael Collins, Hafiz said the bad behaviour of the two boys was well known and the boy's claims over the belt incident was an example of it.

Hafiz said he had been worried by the boy's allegation.

He told the jury: "I was thinking he could talk to other children and they might believe him."

The court has heard the younger boy told his mother about the allegations. She spoke to the second boy's mother and her son then also alleged he had been abused.

Hafiz told police he had carried the boys, but denied any sexual misconduct.