A TILLICOULTRY man has denied assaulting his two young daughters with fishing equipment and footwear around four years ago.

The 31-year-old appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court this week and denied repeatedly striking both children, one of whom was only two years old at the time.

It is alleged that between June 2011 and June 2012, at an address in Coalsnaughton, the accused did assault one girl, aged 5-6, on the body with a fishing net pole, a plastic cereal bowl and boots, or similar.

He is also accused of repeatedly striking the two-year-old on the body, again with a fishing net pole, a plastic cereal bowl and shoes.

The case called before Sheriff Christopher Shead on Monday with the accused entered a plea of not guilty.

During the hearing, the court was urged to treat the case as a matter of urgency due to the age of the complainers and a trial date was scheduled for December 15.

Meanwhile, two men have appeared from custody in relation to two separate domestic assault allegations over the weekend.

A 43-year-old male from Alva is accused of attacking his wife on October 24 by pushing her against the wall and seizing her by the head.

There is also a further charge of stalking libelled against him in that between October 3 and 24 he did “engage in a course of conduct which caused fear and alarm to the female complainer”.

This is alleged to have involved the repeated sending of abusive text messages and him repeatedly attempting to contact her and approaching her and acting in an aggressive manner.

The accused denied both charges against him and is to appear for trial in February.