A SAUCHIE man appeared at the High Court last week on charges of sexually abusing two children as far back as 1985.

The 59-year-old stands accused of assaulting the two youngsters around 30 years ago at properties in Clackmannanshire and in England.

The court papers state he is beng prosecuted for abusing a young girl on various occasions over an eight-year period, and a boy aged between 12 and 14 over a period of more than two-and-half years.

He denied the allegations and is scheduled to go to trial before the end of the year.

It is alleged he sexually assaulted the girl — said to have been between six and 14 years old at the time — between March 1985 and March 1994.

Furthermore, between January 1989, and September 1991, he is accused of plying the young boy with alcohol, inducing him to watch an adult movie, before making indecent remarks to him and performing a sex act on him.

Also, between January 1989 and September 1990 he is accused of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards the same male, by showing pornographic material to him when he was between 12 and 13 years old.

The accused appeared before Lord Burns at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday (25 June) and pleaded not guilty to the offences.

A trial date has since been set down for December.