Kidnap accused was 'trying to keep girl safe'

The girl was allegedly abducted outside Harrods on 22 April last year

A man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl in central London has denied drugging her, telling a court he was trying to keep her "safe".

American pilot Robert Prussak, 57, is alleged to have approached the girl outside Harrods in Knightsbridge after she became separated from her family during a trip to London from France on 22 April.

It is claimed he then walked her to his flat, gave her bitter-tasting water and later sexually assaulted her in a park, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Mr Prussak, who denies all charges against him, told the court he was trying to help the girl because she seemed "lost".

He is on trial accused of three counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, one count of kidnapping, one count of committing an offence of kidnapping with an intent to commit a sexual offence, and one count of administering a substance with intent.

The court previously heard that a urine test on the girl after the incident revealed it contained diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, an antihistamine which typically causes drowsiness.

However, Nneka Akudolu KC, prosecuting, told the court a clear liquid seized from Mr Prussak's kitchen tested negative when it was screen for Benadryl.

'Safe and comfortable'

On Friday, Mr Prussak told the jury that when he saw the girl standing outside Harrods he thought of his own daughters being lost in a big city, but was "reluctant" to get involved.

He said he tried to talk to the girl with the help of a translation app, as she did not speak good English.

Believing the girl's family had gone to a museum, he walked with her towards a museum to try "to get her back with her parents" and keep her "safe and comfortable", he told the court.

He said it started to rain more heavily and they had not seen the girl's parents, so he took her to his nearby flat, looked up details of the emergency services and gave her a drink of water.

The girl previously told the court the water tasted "strange".

Catherine Donnelly, defending, asked him if he put Benadryl in the water, to which he responded "no".

She then asked: "The allegation is you did that to put her to sleep or stupefy her or something of that nature, did you do that?"

Mr Prussak responded: "No."

He later said he was "surprised" to learn that the girl was in his flat for as long as two hours.

He said he "absolutely regrets" not calling the police sooner, saying it was because he did not know "what response I would get" and was afraid "they'd send the cavalry and ambulance and everything".

The trial continues.