A 24-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to the rape of a girl aged between 13 and 15 and the sexual assault of another teenage girl on Bournemouth beach.

The offences are alleged to have taken place close to the Bournemouth Oceanarium at the Dorset seaside resort at about 7.30pm on Sunday May 19.

Antony Demetriades, of Bournemouth, pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape and sexual assault against one complainant and the sexual assault of the second complainant.

Judge David Evans adjourned the case at Bournemouth Crown Court for trial on March 4 next year with a pre-trial review hearing to take place on January 17.

He told the defendant: “You have pleaded not guilty to these allegations and so there will need to be a trial in which the jury listens to the evidence and decides the verdicts.

“Your trial in front of the jury will begin on March 4 next year and I am afraid because of the backlog of work in the courts that is the earliest date.

“You must attend your trial in March next year.”

The judge released the defendant on conditional bail until then.