A sexual predator preyed on four women and a 14-year-old girl in a string of attacks over just three weeks, a court has heard.

Ramazan Karapinar, 19, is alleged to have groped his victims as they walked alone near Carshalton rail station and The Grove park and in Carshalton Beeches. 

The teenager’s trial began this week at Isleworth Crown Court, where he stands charged with six counts of sexual assault in January. Four of the alleged victims were aged between 22 to 34 at the time.

The fifth, a 14-year-old schoolgirl, is said to have been attacked after getting off a school bus in Carshalton Beeches on January 28.

Prosecutor Irshan Sheikh, opening the trial on Tuesday, said: “She was near her home and the man continued to follow her and she told him to leave her alone.

"He began to ask her to come to his home and he then grabbed her round the waistband of her jeans from behind before running away. 

“He then ran back and put two fingers down the rear of her jeans and was pulling them down. She shouted at him and raced down the road to a neighbour’s house.”

Two of the attacks are said to have taken place on January 7, when Mr Karapinar is alleged to have groped a woman after she got off a train at Carshalton station at 6.30pm.

Mr Sheikh said: “The assault left the woman shocked and confused. She looked towards the male and the male turned round and looked back, raised his hand and said ‘sorry’.”

Just 30 minutes later the defendant is said to have crossed the road and twice groped a teacher as she passed The Sun pub in North Street.

The prosecutor told the court: “He put his arms around her and placed his hands on her bottom. She thought that she may be in trouble and decided it would be best to get back on the main road. 

“As she walked away the male grabbed out at her again. On this occasion she felt a finger between her bottom cheeks.”

Two days later Mr Karapinar preyed on a third woman who slipped on the wet pavement after getting out a train at Carshalton station, the court heard.

After helping her up, the defendant said “hello darling, stop,” to the woman before repeating the word “sex” four or five times,” the jury was told.

Mr Sheikh told the court the defendant had then put his arms around the victims chest and between her legs and lifted her up, before dropping her and running off when she screamed.

Traces of Mr Karapinar’s DNA were found during police analysis of the alleged victim’s clothes, the prosecutor added.

He is said to have sexually assaulted another woman later on January 9, again while apologising.

 Police stepped up patrols in Carshalton and launched a manhunt in January after the attacks were reported.

All the alleged victims described their attacker as being Asian or having an Olive complexion and said they believed he was aged between 20 and 30.

The 14-year-old girl picked Mr Karapinar out of an identity parade.

He denies all the charges.

The trial continues.