A man has made his first appearance at crown court faced with sex offences against a girl under 16.

Paul Ahmed, 45, spoke only to confirm his name during a short hearing at Newcastle today.

The charges, of gross indecency and another serious sex offence, relate to a young girl who lives in Staffordshire and are said to have happened on May 30.

Ahmed, of Carnegie Close, South Shields, will be back before the court on November 9 for a plea and directions hearing.

He was granted conditional bail in the meantime but must not interfere with prosecution witnesses and must not enter Staffordshire.