A riding instructor sexually assaulted a number of girls over several years, a court heard.

James Coby, 47, used his position as an instructor at a riding school in Bushey to take advantage of teenage girls, St Albans Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

Edward Lewis, prosecuting, told the five women and seven men of the jury Coby was in the habit of “grooming young and nimble” teenagers for his own pleasure.

“He would teach people of all ages, but we would say he had a particular penchant for teenage girls aged 13 to 17.

“We say he would pester them and go on and take advantage once they gave in,” said the prosecution.

Mr Lewis said: “The facts are these. The defendant is a riding instructor and has worked at a variety of stables and is an experienced horse trainer.

“He gives lessons individually and in groups, renting stables from the owner. One of these stables was in Bushey.”

Mr Lewis said Coby would sleep at the farm, which had around 30 horses, on a sofa upstairs in the tack room, or a horse box.

And it was after Coby, of Balmoral Road, Watford, was seen kissing a 13-year-old girl on the sofa in the tack room that “his proclivities came to light to the authorities,” the court heard.

The witness would tell police Coby had also tried to kiss her in the tack room, but she had rebuffed his advances.

Another girl, aged 15 at the time, told police she had been talking to Coby about a horse he wanted to buy when he pushed her down on the sofa, told her he “had liked her for ages,” adding, “I love you” and kissed her “properly” on the mouth.

It was a year later that the girl caught Coby doing the same to another teenager, the court heard.

The father of two is alleged to have assaulted the first victim almost ten years ago. Coby first came into contact with the girl at a stables in Radlett. Two years later he made a pass at her after buying her a riding book when she turned 16.

As they sat on a settee in a caravan he suddenly kissed her on the lips and told the girl he loved her, the court heard.

The 13-year-old Coby was allegedly caught kissing was spoken to by police about the incident and denied anything, later telling Coby, who said “well done”, the court heard.

However, the girl had a change of heart and during a video interview told how Coby had tried to “put his tongue in her mouth”. She resisted but gave up eventually.

Another time he put his hand down the front of her jodhpurs and told her he “wanted to be inside her,” the court heard.

At a stables in Mill Hill Coby is alleged to have assaulted a 17-year-old girl after she was bent putting horse feed in. She had just straightened up when Coby grabbed her by the chin and cheeks and tried to kiss her on the lips.

She pulled away and wiped her lips and got a cab home, the court heard.

However, his persistence “won out” said the prosecution, as she finally kissed him back and it led to Coby having a sexual relationship with her.

During two interviews Coby said one of the girls had made up the allegation because he sold a horse she wanted.

He admitted trying to kiss one of the girls after she had puckered her lips at him, but said he had no idea why the others would have made up the allegations against him.

Coby denies seven allegations, concerning four teenage girls, of sexual assault, sexual activity with a child and indecent assault.

The trial continues.