working together.

The 24-year-old man claimed the 13-year-old girl had fabricated the allegations because she wanted attention.

But the girl earlier gave evidence that the man had hugged her, squeezed her behind and "tongued'' her in a storeroom at a Sandys supermarket.

Prosecuting Insp. Peter Duffy said the charges relate to an incident on Saturday, July 31. The girl was working in the store as a packer with her 19-year-old stepbrother.

She claims her brother had left the storeroom and she had filled a water gun to soak him when he returned. She said she was approached by the defendant who slapped her on the behind.

She told Magistrates' Court: "I said: `What are you doing? I will squirt you.' He said: `Go ahead.' "He then hugged and squeezed my behind and kissed me on the lips. He tongued me. He told me not to tell my brother. I was scared. I said: `OK.' And then I left.'' The man's lawyer Mr. Tim Marshall asked the girl why she had not told her brother about the attack. She said she was frightened of the man.

She told Mr. Marshall that she had done nothing to try to stop the man's advances or to prevent him "tonguing'' her.

Mr. Marshall questioned whether the storeroom was accessible to everyone in the market. She said it was.

He asked whether she had made allegations about another man. He said: "As a result of the allegations which you made about the other man did you realise that when you are in an uncomfortable situation you should leave.'' She replied that she did not.

Mr. Marshall said: "I am going to suggest that you are making up the allegations.'' She replied: "Why would I be making up the allegations? I would never make up a thing like that. I am not stupid.'' The girl reported the attack some days later and the man was arrested. He denied any knowledge of the offence.

He told the court that he had seen the girl and then described a normal working day.

He said he was upset and angered by the allegations. Asked why she should make the allegations he said: "Because she lacks a bit of attention.'' He said he had nicknamed the girl "Motor Mouth'' because she kept on talking until people would listen.

Mr. Marshall asked the man if he touched her or had any desire to touch her.

He said he had no desire to do that and he had no sexual interest at all in girls under 16 years of age.

The man said he had seen the girl twice between the time the incident is alleged to have occurred and when he was arrested, and that she had not mentioned it.

He said he was living with his fiancee at the time and they have since married.

The case continues today, in front of Magistrate the Wor. Charles-Etta Simmons.