Two men have denied sex attacks on a pair of 14-year-old schoolgirls at an Indian restaurant where they worked.
Sumon Ahmed, 25, and Muhammad Ali, 19, are accused of sexually assaulting the girls at the premises in Church Street, Great Baddow.
The offences are alleged to have taken place on August 21 this year.
Ali, who wore a green baseball jacket and spoke through an interpreter, confirmed his age, address and name as well as entering his not guilty plea.
Ahmed, wearing a dark blue puffer jacket, also only spoke to confirm his identity and to deny the charge during the 15-minute hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Friday (December 12).
The court heard one of the girls were allegedly taken to a back room and kissed, while a man said he wanted "to do stuff to her", while touching her bottom over her clothing.
She allegedly told him "no", and he allegedly pulled her in and kissed her again. It was then she said she had to leave and ran out of the room.
Angela Hughes, prosecuting, said: "The most aggravating feature is the girl's ages, but the sexual touching was over clothing and the kissing was somewhat more intimate."
Ahmed, of Whitman House, Cornwall Avenue, Tower Hamlets and Muhammed Ali, Gunton Road, London, opted to face a jury trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, March 2.
