A COUNCILLOR has appeared in court to deny a string of child sex offences.
Cllr David Smith, who represents Coulby Newham on Middlesbrough Council, arrived at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with nine counts of sexual activity with a child.
Wearing a white patterned shirt, blue trousers and brown shoes, he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
The historical allegations, dating back a decade, include three charges of sexual touching and six other, serious sex offences.
Members of the public watched the proceedings from the public gallery.
Paul Watson, defending, told District Judge Timothy Capstick that Smith was pleading “not guilty for each and every count”.
Because of the seriousness of the charges the judge told Smith: “Your case will be sent to the crown court, it will have to be heard in due course.
“There will be a first hearing on September 4 this year.”
Smith was bailed on the condition he does not have intentional, unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.
The 30-year-old previously released a statement in which he denied all allegations against him and said he would fight to clear his name.
He resigned from the Conservative Party after he was formally charged but remains an elected councillor.
Since his election, Cllr Smith made headlines when he successfully petitioned Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston to trial gender-neutral toilets at Middlesbrough Council.
In June he apologised for comments he made to the Middlesbrough FC fan page Fly Me To The Moon in which he referred to people on benefits as “rotten pond life families that should be sterilised and washed”.
Smith, of Rainsford Crescent, Middlesbrough, will appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 4.
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