A hostel worker tried to rape a teenage boy guest

A hostel worker tried to rape a teenage boy guest as he slept in bed, the Old Bailey heard today (THURS).

Baljit Mann, 23, sneaked into the youngster’s room using a set of spare keys, the jury was told.

Then he took off his trousers, slipped under the sheets, and tried to rape the 16-year-old, it is claimed.

It was only when the lad woke up and told Mann to go away that he stopped, the court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Dodgson said the boy was staying at a bed and breakfast hostel in Hounslow, Middx, last summer after having problems with his family.

On the evening of July 13 he returned after a night out and went to bed with the television on.

But in the early hours of the morning, Mann crept into the room, it is alleged.

Mr Dodgson said: ‘The TV was on and the boy fell asleep.

The next thing he was aware of was waking up to find the defendant in bed with him, attempting to rape him.

‘He says he was horrified at what was going on.

This was something he most certainly did not consent to.

‘He told the defendant to get out, and the defendant apologised, took his clothes, and left.

‘

The teenager called a friend within minutes of the incident, and she drove to the B&B and took him to the police, the jury was told.

Mann, who was working as an assistant manager at the hostel, was later arrested.

During his interview, he claimed he had had sexual contact with the boy a few weeks before the incident.

Mann said he was doing his rounds at the hostel on the night of the incident, and could hear that the TV in the boy’s room was on.

He said he let himself in with a spare key, and the youngster then invited him to get into bed.

But he said that nothing sexual happened between them, and he eventually left.

Mann, of Jersey Road, Osterley, Middx, denies attempted rape and indecent assault.

The trial continues.

ends