A Pembroke man accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl was remanded in custody yesterday.

Happy Valley resident Jemel Caines, 40, pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was sent to jail after he was denied bail by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner in Magistrates' Court.

Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney alleged that Caines molested the child at the St. George's home of a family friend during a party on July 4.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been sleeping in a room at the premises alongside other children.

Caines is said to have snuck into the room, where he was caught "moving up and down between the child's legs" by a member of the family.

When confronted and asked to leave the party, Caines was heard saying he would "come back with his gun and shoot up the place", according to Mr. Mahoney.

He told the court that Caines sent a text message to a member of the family in question following the alleged assault, saying: "I feel so bad" and "I'm an ass for drinking like that."

Mr. Mahoney strongly objected to bail for Caines, citing two prior convictions, including committing an indecent act in the presence of a child.

He added that Caines had "no issues approaching witnesses" and would be likely to interfere with the case. He also told the court of Caines' history of drug problems and his likelihood of reoffence.

Duty counsel Shade Subair argued that the Crown counsel's case was "weak", noting a "history of conflict" between Caines and a female relative of the six-year-old girl.

"He owes her money and she has a reason to concoct this story," Ms Subair told the court. She added that despite the "dirty" aspect of the allegations against Caines, he deserved the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Mr. Warner called Caines a "sexual pervert" and refused him bail. He will appear for trial in Magistrates' Court on October 20, and will be remanded until then.