A SOMERSET man facing allegations of rape and serious sexual assaults on a young girl has been ordered to stand trial at Taunton Crown Court.

Richard Twycross, 23, of Brunel Court, Chard, appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil.

He was charged with two counts of rape on a girl under the age of 13 at Chard between June 15, 2004 and June 14, 2006.

He was also alleged to have carried out a serious sexual assault by penetration on the same victim between the same two dates.

He was also charged with two further offences of intentionally touching the girl, and the touching was of a sexual nature.

The defendant did not enter pleas to any of the allegations and the magistrates said that the case was so serious that it had to be sent straight to the crown court to be dealt with.

They adjourned all matters until Monday, May 16, when Twycross must appear before a preliminary hearing at Taunton when he is expected to enter his pleas.

In the meantime he was released on bail with conditions not to contact the alleged victim directly or indirectly and not to have any contact with persons under the age of 16 years unless supervised by a responsible adult aged 21 or over.