Refugee faces assault charge

8:03am Monday 8th January 2007

A VIETNAMESE journalist said to have been forced to flee his home country after writing anti-government articles has appeared before Hyndburn magistrates charged with indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl.

Vu Ngoc Phan, 38, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to the offence which is alleged to have happened in Blackburn.

He was ordered to stand trial at Preston Crown Court.

Philip Smithies, defending, said Phan was a graduate of the University of Hanoi where he studied journalism.

He said he was forced to flee Vietnam fearing for his life and travelled across China, into Europe and eventually to England in the back of numerous lorries.

The magistrates granted Phan's application for bail but prosecutor Philippa White immediately lodged an appeal which means Phan will remain in custody until a judge at the Crown Court hears the appeal.