A SEVENTEEN year old youth from Chard has been ordered to stand trial before Somerset Magistrates accused of a string of sexual assaults on two underage girls.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before a hearing of Somerset Youth Court at Yeovil.

He was charged with 10 counts of intentionally touching a girl under the age of 16, and the touching was of a sexual nature.

All the offences are alleged to have taken place at Paignton in Devon on August 10 last year.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the allegations and following a review of the case it was adjourned for him to stand trial before the court at Yeovil on October 30.

Until then he was released on unconditional bail.