A 54-year-old man has gone on trial accused of attempting to abduct a young boy at a Bradford shopping centre.

Prosecutor Michelle Colborne told a jury at the city's crown court yesterday that the four-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had gone into the toilets at the Oastler complex with a family friend and his son.

Stephen Sixsmith is then alleged to have approached the young boy in the toilet.

The court heard that after grabbing the boy by the arm, Sixsmith asked him if he was coming into the toilet with him.

The father-of-two, who had accompanied the youngster, told the court how he had intervened and said: "He ain't going with you so just let him go."

The man told the court: "He just looked at me and I said 'He ain't going with you. He's with me. Leave him alone'.''

The man said Sixsmith let go of the boy's arm and he took him out of the toilets back to his mother.

"I told his mum what had happened and we went and reported it to security,'' he added.

"How did the boy react?'' asked Miss Colborne.

"He was scared,'' replied the witness.

Sixsmith, of Chain Street, Bradford, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempting to abduct the boy.

When he was questioned by police soon after the incident last November he said the witness had been lying.

Miss Colborne said Sixsmith accepted a child had been coming out of the cubicle as he went in, but said he asked if he had finished and denied having any physical contact with him.

The trial continues.