A WOMAN is to stand trial next year accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage boy.

It follows Shannon Anderson’s denials to offences said to have been committed involving the boy, in 2017 and 2018.

Appearing at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court, the defendant denied four counts of sexual activity with a child, two in which she is said to have kissed the boy, and two said to have involved full penetrative sex, in both cases on at least 11 occasions.

A trial, which is estimated to take up two days of court time, was agreed by all parties to be staged in the week starting on June 14 next year.

The 23-year-old defendant, from Seaham, was bailed to an address out of the town to return for a pre-trial hearing later this year.