A WROUGHTON man has denied sexually assaulting a 71-year-old woman, exposing himself in front of others and performing an indecent act in front of a 12-year-old and 15-year-old child.

Wayne Underwood, 46, of Thorney Park, Wroughton, pleaded not guilty to three different charges at Swindon Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He is charged with a sexual assault on a 71-year-old woman in Wroughton on July 8, last year.

Underwood also faces a charge of exposure in front of three women at a house in Wroughton between Friday, September 3 and Sunday, September 12 last year.

He is also charged with performing a sexual act in front of a 12-year and a 15-year-old and a woman in Wroughton between Saturday, September 4 and Monday September 13, last year.

None of the victims can be named for legal reasons.

After a lengthy discussion on whether this should be sent up to crown court, it was decided that the magistrates did have sufficient powers of sentencing to hear the case.

A trial will now take place at Swindon Magistrates' Court, where they have the power to sentence people to a maximum of 12 months imprisonment.

Underwood was released on conditional bail not to approach any of the victims or witnesses.

He will return to Swindon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 24 for a pre-trial review.

Jamie Hill