A pervert who molested a teenage girl on the hard shoulder of a motorway has been jailed for 21 months.

Chef Mohammed Russel, 47, had denied sexual assault but was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court.

The 18-year-old victim had been stranded in his car in the early hours after it ran out of fuel on the M20 near Wrotham.

Russel, of Thames Road, Crayford, repeatedly molested the girl, despite her protestations and attempts to push him off, the jury was told.

When an AA patrolman arrived Russel told him: “You were quick. I was just about to get on top of her.”

He took Russel and the girl to the nearest petrol station and saw she was almost hunched, crammed against the nearside window. Russel sat very close to her.

Prosecutor Anthony Prosser said Russel told police after his arrest that the girl kissed him on the cheek and he only gave her a hug.

He maintained his account even when confronted with DNA evidence which suggested his saliva was on the inside of her bra.

But he claimed at his trial that there was sex play and she instigated it and consented to it.

Russel, who is known as Jay, met the girl at a restaurant in Bromley where he worked as a chef.

In March last year he invited her to the Buddha Belly restaurant in Maidstone, only to find it closed. He started to drive her home but his car ran out of fuel on the hard shoulder near junction two.

During their journey Russel asked the girl whether she had a boyfriend and suggested that they could have a relationship.

“She found all of this awkward and told him repeatedly that she wasn’t interested in a relationship, or a relationship with him, and that the age gap was far too great,” said Mr Prosser.

As they waited for the AA, Russel tried to kiss her and put his hand down the front of her trousers. She repeatedly told him no.

Russel persisted by lowering both seats and trying to climb on top of her as he continued to fondle her.

“Thankfully it all came to a sudden end when the AA breakdown vehicle arrived,” said Mr Prosser.

“The defendant broke off from molesting her and went to speak to the driver.”