An Ipswich man who allegedly “gyrated and rubbed himself” against a teenage girl while he was dancing to “Rude Boy” by Rhianna has denied sexually assaulting her.

Jeffrey Ricketts, 38, denied getting “a bit carried away” after having a few drinks and slapping the girl’s bottom, squeezing her breasts and rubbing his groin against her buttocks as he listened to the music on his mobile phone.

Hugh Vass, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court alleged the schoolgirl had been upset by his behaviour and was left in tears.

Ricketts, of Woolverstone Close, Ipswich has denied sexually assaulting the girl in June last year.

Outlining the facts of the case Mr Vass accepted it wasn’t the most serious case of sexual assault to come before the court.

He claimed that Ricketts had started dancing in his garden to music on his iPhone and had been rubbing his chest and groin.

He had allegedly been staring at the girl and told her to stand up but she was embarrassed and refused.

Ricketts had then allegedly stood behind her and tried to lift her up. “He made contact with her breasts and squeezed them,” claimed Mr Vass.

He alleged Ricketts had pulled the girl to her feet and smacked her bottom and gyrated and rubbed himself against her buttocks while he was sexually aroused.

Mr Vass said that after the girl complained about the incident Ricketts claimed his behaviour was harmless “dad dancing” and said there had been no contact between him and the girl.

Giving evidence Ricketts accepted the video that accompanied “Rude Boy” contained scenes of bondage and sado-masochism but denied he had got “a bit carried away” and touched the girl inappropriately.

He denied slapping her bottom or touching her breasts and that he had rubbed his groin against her bottom while sexually aroused.

The trial continues today.