‘As far as I recall, I didn’t do that in there,’ says accused

A man charged with the sexual exploitation of a teenage boy at a public toilet at a shopping centre in Co Cork told gardaí, “It is very unfair to blame someone for something one has not done.”

Dahesh Patel, aged 56, of Dillon’s Court, Dillon’s Cross, Cork, appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday for the second day of his trial where he pleaded not guilty to the alleged sexual exploitation of a minor on June 21, 2015.

Asked about visiting the toilet on the day, he said he probably bought drink in the shopping centre that day. He said he had a drink problem and had a naggin of vodka that day. He said, “I cannot remember it. I would say I was there.”