Sex assaults: man in court

A MAN has appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting young girls in his own shop.

Mohammed Asghar, 56, faces four charges of assault and one of breach of the peace for his alleged behaviour towards three girls on various dates between October 2006 and June this year. At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday he pleaded not guilty to the charges and he will now go to trial next month.

All the incidents are said to have taken place in the shop owned by Asghar - Moons Newsagents in Dalkeith.

Three of the charges relate to one girl who Asghar allegedly assaulted between June 2007 and December 2009. On one particular occasion, he is accused of locking her into the shop before assaulting her.

Asghar is due to stand trial for the charges on October 25.