A man has denied a deliberate sexual assault on a paramedic who was treating him in the back of an ambulance.

Ian Vickers told a court he did not intentionally grab the female medic twice between the legs or make obscene comments to her.

He has also denied groping her female colleague's bottom as she briefed doctors on his condition after they arrived at hospital.

Vickers said he could not remember what had happened because he had suffered a head injury after being attacked.

The ambulance crew found him slumped against a wall in Marlborough Place, Brighton, with a 2in gash between his eyes on June 10 last year.

Vickers, of Pier Road, Littlehampton, told the jury he had had a couple of drinks before he was introduced to a group of street drinkers, one of whom demanded money from him.

Vickers told Hove Crown Court yesterday: "I declined and he grabbed me by the windpipe.

"The next clear recollection I have is of waking up in hospital and not knowing where I was."

The court was earlier told that Vickers, 51, was strapped to a back board by the ambulance crew because of their concerns about possible head and spinal injuries.

The first paramedic said Vickers grabbed her twice between the legs and tried to grab her breasts as she treated his injuries.

She said he kept repeating obscene remarks about what he would like to do to her genitals.

At one stage she broke down in tears as she recalled the alleged assault and the judge adjourned the hearing so she could regain her composure.

The second paramedic said she had seen Vickers put his hand between her colleague's legs and had heard the remarks he made.

She said he had also cupped her bottom in his hand as she spoke to doctors at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

John Femi-Ola, defending, asked Vickers: "Did you intend to sexually assault either of them?"

He replied: "Goodness gracious me, not at all.

"I have been quite shocked listening to the words I am alleged to have used."

He added: "I can offer no real explanation for what happened in the ambulance other than I was confused because of the head injury I had suffered.

"I am not the sort of person who has a drink and then goes around groping women"

Vickers denies three charges of sexually assaulting the paramedics.

The trial continues.