Actor convicted of indecent assault on female stage manager in 2004
40-year-old had juggler's hat on lap during journey
An actor who played an Ewok in Star Wars and a goblin in Harry Potter has been hauled before a court for allegedly touching himself in front of a teenage girl on a train.
Nicholas Read is said to have touched himself in an obscene manner, underneath a juggler's hat on his lap, in full view of a shocked 17-year-old.
Read, 40, who played a goblin in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone and an Ewok in Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, denies indecent exposure, on October 16. 
The actor - whose website states he is a dwarf for hire - was travelling north from London after judging a croquet competition when the alleged incident occurred.
He had drunk half a bottle of gin provided by sponsors of the event, Leicester Crown Court was told.
The teenager told the jury she caught the 7.55pm London St Pancras to Leicester train to meet her boyfriend.
She said after Read sat beside her, he undid the button of his trousers and placed his hat on his crotch. 
She said: 'I saw a movement and I was a bit shocked. I didn't know whether to believe it,'
The alleged victim, now 18, who gave evidence from behind a screen, broke down in tears as she described feeling too scared to say anything and feared he was going to touch her.
The lewd behaviour allegedly continued for 30 to 40 minutes.
The teenager said: 'He tried to catch my attention, tilting his hat up, looking at his crotch area and then looking a me a few times.'
She added that, on arriving in Leicester, 'he put his legs on to the seat, leaving his hat on his crotch, and I had to squeeze past him and he looked directly at me. 
'I was shaking and a bit distressed.'
She was met by her boyfriend and they reported the matter to a British Transport Police officer, who arranged for Read to be arrested at Sheffield.
She described him to the police as a white European male dwarf, 4ft 5in tall with a bald head.
Under cross-examination she denied a defence suggestion that she was mistaken or that her imagination had run away with her.
Read, of Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, insisted nothing untoward took place, saying he could not remember whether his hands were under his hat or resting on it - but said she had clearly misinterpreted events.
He told the jury he was 'a born entertainer'.
Read, who also played a goblin in 1986 film, Labyrinth, said: 'I've worked in entertainment since I was 12, mostly costume work for films, television, theatre and pantomime.'
He said he did not undo his trousers and was wearing a belt which remained fastened and he said he was 'relaxed' or 'merry' but not drunk.
Read claimed he was 'shocked' when arrested at Sheffield, where he was planning to stay.
The jury was told he had a conviction for indecent assault in 2004 when, after a New Year Party with a pantomime cast, he 'flaked out' on the stage manager's sofa and then drunkenly climbed into bed with her.
The trial continues.
40-year-old had juggler's hat on lap during journey
An actor who played an Ewok in Star Wars and a goblin in Harry Potter has been hauled before a court for allegedly touching himself in front of a teenage girl on a train.
Nicholas Read is said to have touched himself in an obscene manner, underneath a juggler's hat on his lap, in full view of a shocked 17-year-old.
Read, 40, who played a goblin in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone and an Ewok in Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, denies indecent exposure, on October 16.
Nicholas Read arrives at Leicester Crown Court, where he is on trial for allegedly touching himself in an obscene manner, underneath a juggler's hat, in front of a 17-year-old. Mr Read played an Ewok in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (stock image)
The actor - whose website states he is a dwarf for hire - was travelling north from London after judging a croquet competition when the alleged incident occurred.
He had drunk half a bottle of gin provided by sponsors of the event, Leicester Crown Court was told.
The teenager told the jury she caught the 7.55pm London St Pancras to Leicester train to meet her boyfriend.
She said after Read sat beside her, he undid the button of his trousers and placed his hat on his crotch.
Nicholas Read (left) had drunk half a bottle of gin before boarding the train where the incident is alleged to have occurred, the court heard
She said: 'I saw a movement and I was a bit shocked. I didn't know whether to believe it,'
The alleged victim, now 18, who gave evidence from behind a screen, broke down in tears as she described feeling too scared to say anything and feared he was going to touch her.
The lewd behaviour allegedly continued for 30 to 40 minutes.
The teenager said: 'He tried to catch my attention, tilting his hat up, looking at his crotch area and then looking a me a few times.'
She added that, on arriving in Leicester, 'he put his legs on to the seat, leaving his hat on his crotch, and I had to squeeze past him and he looked directly at me.
Read played a goblin in the film Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, starring Daniel Radcliffe, right (stock image)
'I was shaking and a bit distressed.'
She was met by her boyfriend and they reported the matter to a British Transport Police officer, who arranged for Read to be arrested at Sheffield.
She described him to the police as a white European male dwarf, 4ft 5in tall with a bald head.
Under cross-examination she denied a defence suggestion that she was mistaken or that her imagination had run away with her.
Read, of Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, insisted nothing untoward took place, saying he could not remember whether his hands were under his hat or resting on it - but said she had clearly misinterpreted events.
He told the jury he was 'a born entertainer'.
Read, who also played a goblin in 1986 film, Labyrinth, said: 'I've worked in entertainment since I was 12, mostly costume work for films, television, theatre and pantomime.'
He said he did not undo his trousers and was wearing a belt which remained fastened and he said he was 'relaxed' or 'merry' but not drunk.
Read claimed he was 'shocked' when arrested at Sheffield, where he was planning to stay.
The jury was told he had a conviction for indecent assault in 2004 when, after a New Year Party with a pantomime cast, he 'flaked out' on the stage manager's sofa and then drunkenly climbed into bed with her.
The trial continues.
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