A man has appeared in court charged with sexually abusing three girls aged as young as seven in Prestwick and elsewhere over a period of 17 years.

Charles McMahon, 49, denies 13 separate accusations of lewd or indecent acts, assault or threatening behaviour.

The Crown alleges that he committed indecent acts in Prestwick, Clydebank and Linwood between 2002 and 2019.

He is accused of walking around exposed or aroused in front of each of the girls, and entering bathrooms uninvited while each of them was washing or using the toilet.

The prosecution claims that the youngest of the girls was aged between 7 and 12 years old when the first of the alleged incidents took place, while the oldest was aged 18.

Charges levelled by the Crown include accusations that Mr McMahon sexually assaulted two of the girls and physically assaulted one by allegedly punching her repeatedly on the head.

Mr McMahon, of Kintyre Avenue, Linwood, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when he appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court.

Bail was continued and he will return to court at a later date.