A GAS engineer is appearing at the Old Bailey today charged with sexually assaulting two women in East Barnet.

The alleged attacks by Gurpreet Singh, of Hertford Road, Enfield, occurred when he was working in the area for the National Grid.

Police said the company turned off the gas in the East Barnet area, following the winter gas crisis, to enable repairs to residents' homes.

Mr Singh, 24, had to enter the homes of the two women, both over 18, to check their appliances, which is how he made contact with them, detectives claim.

He is charged with two counts of sexual assault on a woman. Both alleged attacks happened in the same street, outside the women's homes, on February 18 and 19, police said.

The trial was due to be held at Wood Green Crown Court, but has been transferred to the Old Bailey, and is listed to begin this morning.