A 58-year-old man has appeared in court charged with multiple counts of child rape and indecent assault.

David Carter of Hawkwood Crescent, St John's, Worcester appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday charged with 13 sexual offences against a child.

The defendant is accused of eight rapes of a child under 16, four indecent assaults and one charge of gross indecency with a child. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1992 and 1999.

Seven of the eight rape charges each contain multiple alleged rapes which specify that the defendant is accused of committing the offence 'on at least five occasions'.

The alleged offences are also said by the prosecution to involve a single complainant who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Carter confirmed his address and date of birth at the hearing but did not enter any pleas to the charges.

Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, said the offences were 'indictable only' and asked that the case be sent to Worcester Crown Court.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction. The case will next be heard at the crown court on September 9.

Carter was granted unconditional bail until that hearing.