A MAN, already charged with one offence of downloading indecent pictures of children from the Internet, was told yesterday he is facing another 16 similar allegations.

Trevor MacPherson, of Niddrie, Edinburgh, is said to have had 380 images on the hard drive of a computer found at an address he shared with a former girlfriend at Whashton, North Yorkshire.

Although he has not yet submitted a plea, his solicitor Peter Boddy indicated that 28-year-old MacPherson is likely to deny all the charges.

Yesterday, magistrates in Richmond decided the case ought to be heard by a judge and jury and committed Mr MacPherson for trial at Teesside Crown Court.

He was allowed conditional bail and a plea and directions hearing has been set for Friday, March 7.

Meanwhile, Mr MacPherson admitted failing to surrender to custody on September 2 last year and was also committed for sentence for the offence at crown court.