A 63-YEAR-OLD man has denied sexually touching girls' legs on buses.

Kamal Hanna, of Cliff Avenue, Peacehaven, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court where he denied four counts of sexual assault and was bailed ahead of a trial at the same court.

He is accused of touching one girl aged twelve, one aged 13, one aged 15, and a woman aged 19, on buses in Marine Drive, Brighton, South Coast Road, Peacehaven, and Blatchington Road, Hove, in July and August last year.

It is understood the alleged touching was on the legs, above the clothing, as Mr Hanna sat next to his alleged victims.

Mr Hanna normally lives in Egypt, where he runs a business, and is in the country visiting his brother and daughter-in-law.

Speaking through an Arabic translator at his court hearing, he chose to be tried at the magistrates’ court rather than in front of a jury in the crown court.

District Judge Teresa Szagun granted Mr Hanna conditional bail and fixed a trial date for March 31.

Mr Hanna is prevented from travelling on buses while he awaits his trial. There has been no allegation of offending since the alleged incidents last year.

District Judge Szagun told him: "Your trial will take place before me on March 31. If you don't come what will happen is I will hear the evidence in your absence."