A SEXUAL assault victim had her bottom slapped and her private parts touched by an alleged sex offender in Southend High Street before he laughed in her face, a court heard.

Ivan Balaz, 41, of Pantile Avenue, Southend, is standing trial accused of sexually assaulting the woman on February 1, 2020 after denying the charge.

Yesterday, the victim spoke in court and told jurors it was a deliberate act and that Balaz laughed in her face after she confronted him.

She said: “He touched my private area and then laughed in my face.

“He also slapped and grabbed my bottom in the incident.

“He purposely touched me, it wasn’t his hand just passing me and touching me.

“I had a bit to drink that night but I can handle my drink. It was not just an accident and then after it all kicked off and he did laugh in my face.

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“He was in front of me when he touched my private area and I did not overact due to the amount of drink. I did not consent to the touching.”

A friend of the victim who witnessed the incident also took to the stand yesterday describing the assault as a “full on grab”.

She said: “He grabbed her with one hand on her bum and I saw it happen over her clothes.

“It was a full on grab, slap and made a noise and was quite hard.

“He had clenched fingers at the time. After that she was shocked and angry and she felt the same after he touched her privates too.

“He put his hand under her dress the second time he touched her.”

She told the hearing she was beside the victim at the time and saw him touch her twice.

The witness added: “It all kicked off with screaming and shouting in the street.

“Then police came and took them both away.”

The trial continues at Basildon Crown Court.