A WOMAN was grabbed and forcibly kissed while a man was put in a headlock as the pair walked to work, a court heard.

Thomas Cooper is standing trial at Basildon Crown Court accused of assault and sexual assault in relation to the incident in Leigh on Christmas Day 2019.

It is alleged the 24-year-old of Rayleigh Road, Leigh drove alongside the man and woman before getting out of the car, following them and shouting abuse.

Cooper denies both counts against him.

Prosecuting at Basildon Crown Court, Adam Budworth told a jury of eight women and four men that the incident began at 8.55am.

He said: “They were both walking to work, they worked in housing support.

“The defendant was in the passenger seat of the car.

“She was apprehensive immediately and thought there might be some form of altercation.”

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Mr Budworth said as Cooper followed the two, he kept shouting at them and wouldn’t listen when they said they would be late for work.

He continued: “At one point the man walking with her turned and said to the defendant ‘just leave it bruv’ and he replied ‘don’t call me bruv’ and pushed her shoulders with both his hands as she was in-between them. She pushed him to stop him advancing towards the other man.”

Mr Budworth said it was alleged that Cooper had shouted “the next time I see you, you will be dead” at the man, before grabbing him and putting him in a headlock.

He said: “He started swinging punches at him and these punches went to the left side of his head.

“The woman took hold of the defendant in a bear hug to put him out of what was happening, but as the defendant was leaving the scene the woman made comments about the defendant being on drugs, having smelt of drink.

“But it is then that he grabbed her by the face and kissed her on the lips, she pulled away and slapped him in the face.”

The court heard Cooper had already admitted assaulting the man, but denies grabbing the woman or kissing her.

The trial continues.