A FIFTY five year old man has appeared in court facing a string of alleged offences of sexual assault on a young girl and boy at Chard.

William George Palmer, of Dwelly Close, Chard, appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil.

He is set to stand trial after not entering a plea for eight charges relating to sexual incidents that are alleged to have taken place over the last five years.

He was charged with sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 involving penetration.

Palmer was also charged with another similar offence involving attempted sexual assault at Chard.

In addition to those charges, he was also alleged to have committed six offences of intentionally touching a girl under the age of 13 in a sexual manner when she did not consent.

A further allegation of sexual touching involving a boy under the age of 13 was also alleged.

All the offences were alleged to have been committed on various dates in Chard.

The defendant did not enter any pleas to the charges and the magistrates said the case was so serious that Palmer must be sent to Taunton Crown Court to stand trial.

They adjourned all matters until Monday, November 6 when Palmer must appear before a pre-trial hearing there.

In the meantime Palmer was released on bail with conditions that he must not contact the complainants or other named witnesses directly or indirectly.