A former Beaver leader was accused of sexual assault by a child who had seen the same claim made on a satirical cartoon, at Brighton Crown Court was told.

Jason Asthana, 32, has denied two counts of sexual assault on a child and one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity between August 2009 and August 2010.

The boy told his parents Asthana told him to take his pants down, then took a photograph.

Gareth Underhill, defending, told the jury in his closing speech yesterday (December 20) that the boy had seen an episode of the television programme South Park.

He said: “That one episode of South Park depicts the introduction of a new Beaver leader who tells the children to take their trousers down, takes photographs and tells them not to tell anybody.”

The case continues.

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