A CREWKERNE man accused of assaulting a 16-year-old boy inside the grounds of his school after he kicked a football at his car has been ordered to stand trial.

Martin James Burch was allegedly waiting outside the school in Yeovil in his car when a football came over the school wall which hit his vehicle.

He was then alleged to have stormed into the school, shouted abuse at the youth, grabbed hold of him by his school jumper and punched him three or four times.

Burch, 37, of Curriott Hill Road, appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil.

He pleaded not guilty to assaulting the youth by beating him during the incident on September 19 at Yeovil.

Prosecutor Ben Winzer said that when the defendant was interviewed by the police he claimed he had been acting in self defence at the time.

A review of the case was conducted and the matter was adjourned until May 23 for a trial to take place.

Burch was ordered to return to the court on that date and in the meantime was released on unconditional bail.