A Northland school bus driver accused of groping a teenage student claimed she hugged him "right in" before he pushed her away because he didn't like it.
The man elected to give evidence at his trial in Whangarei District Court yesterday after the Crown completed its case. The jury is expected to retire before lunch today.
The bus driver is facing one charge of indecently assaulting a student on the final day of a school term and on the last bus stop last year.
He's accused of putting a hand on her breast and kissing her on the lips and on her cheek.
He vehemently denied inappropriately touching the student when questioned yesterday by his lawyer, Richard Parangi, and Crown prosecutor Moana Jarman-Taylor.