A 59-YEAR-old north Cumbrian man has appeared before a court to face allegations of sexually grooming a child.

Andrew Trollope, from Heads Nook, near Brampton, appeared at Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates' Court where he declined to enter any pleas.

He faces four charges.

The first is that between April 4 and May 2 he attempted to engage in sexual communication with a child for the purpose of sexual gratification.

The second charge alleges that between April 22 and April 27 he tried to facilitate the commission of a child sex offence in Wolverhampton.

The third allegation is that on April 23 at Carlisle he attempted to incite a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity.

The final allegation is that he attempted to meet a 13-year-old girl following grooming with an intention to do something which would involve an offence as defined by the 2003 Sexual Offences Act.

He is alleged to have done this on April 26 last year.

Magistrates sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on March 23.

The defendant was granted bail until then.