A MAN is due to stand trial later this year charged with sexually abusing three girls – one of them as young as seven - in Prestwick, Clydebank and Linwood over a period of 17 years.

Charles McMahon denies 13 separate accusations of lewd or indecent acts, assault or threatening behaviour, alleged to have been committed between 2002 and 2019.

He is accused of walking around exposed or aroused in front of each of the girls and of 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 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.

He had originally been due to stand trial in July but the case was adjourned for a further pre-trial hearing.

When that hearing took place last week, defence counsel John Brannigan made a number of requests, including that a number of text messages be allowed into evidence for a jury to see during trial.

Mr Brannigan told the court it was his client's position the accusations are “fabricated”.

Sheriff Desmond Leslie granted some of Mr Brannigan’s requests but refused others, and set a new trial diet for later this year.

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