Hornsby driving instructor Samir Basnet pleads not guilty to allegedly grouping woman during lesson

A Sydney driving instructor accused of groping a 23-year-old woman during a professional lesson will fight the allegations in court.

Basnet appeared at Hornsby Court.

A driving instructor will fight allegations he groped a 23-year-old woman during a lesson in Sydney’s upper north shore, as he fronted court for the first time.

Samir Basnet, 37, of Hornsby, pleaded not guilty at Hornsby Local Court on Thursday to two counts of sexually touching a person without consent following an alleged incident on January 31.

About 4.30pm, Ku-ring-gai police received a report that a woman had allegedly been assaulted during a professional driving lesson.

Court documents further reveal that Basnet is alleged to have sexually touched the breasts of the woman – whose identity has been withheld – with his arm, as well as sexually touching her vagina.

Following inquiries, Basnet was arrested at Hornsby police station shortly before midday on February 1.

Leaving Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday, Basnet refused to answer questions from the media.

Basnet will reappear before the same court on March 22, and will remain in the community on bail.