A FIFTY-two-year-old west Cumbrian man has denied an allegation that he attempted to facilitate a woman to sexually abuse her children.

Workington man Alan Nicholson, 52, entered a not guilty plea to the charge when he appeared before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court. The charge states that he attempted to arrange or facilitate the abuse.

Prosecutors say that this happened between September 14 and September 23 last year and that he believed the person involved would carry out the abuse of the children at a location in England.

The defendant, of Main Road, High Harrington, who spoke only to confirm his details, his plea and to check his bail conditions, will now face a trial.

Judge Nicholas Barker said that trial will get underway in the second week in August. In the meantime, Nicholson was granted bail. This includes certain conditions, including one that the defendant has no unsupervised contact with any child.

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