A Stevenage man who is alleged to have repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted a girl and a boy has appeared in court.

Anthony Joseph Gorringe appeared at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday via videolink from HMP Bure where he is currently being held.

The 57-year-old has been charged with 26 sexual offences. They include 13 counts of causing a girl aged between 15 and 17 to engage in penetrative sex, and two of non-penetrative sex without her consent, two counts of sexual assault on a girl aged 15 to 17 and three counts of rape on a girl aged between 15 and 18.

These offences are alleged to have taken place between 2009 and 2013.

There is a further charge of inciting a 17-year-old girl to prostitution.

He is also charged with one count of rape and one of attempted rape on a boy aged between 16 and 17 and two counts of causing him to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity without his consent. These offences are alleged to have taken place in 2004 or 2005.

Mr Gorringe will next appear at St Albans Crown Court on February 9 for a pre-trial preparation hearing.

The magistrates did not grant him bail.