A man accused of attempting sexual communication with a child will face Crown Court proceedings next month.
The 43-year-old appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday for the purposes of a preliminary enquiry (PE), the legal process through which a case is referred to the higher court.
Marek Ryba, of The Glen, Runcorn, England, is charged with one count of attempted sexual communication with a child.
The court heard the offence is alleged to have been committed between May 17, 2022, and June 28 of the same year.
The defendant is accused of, being a person aged 18 or over, and for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, intentionally attempting to communicate with a person under 16 years, the communication being sexual or intended to encourage the person to make a communication that was sexual.
The charge alleges that the defendant did not reasonably believe the person was 16 or over.
Appearing in the dock, the defendant made no objection to the holding of a preliminary enquiry.
Prosecution submitted that based on the papers before the court there was a prima facie case to answer.
The defence made no contrary submissions.
District Judge Anne Marshall, satisfied there was a prima facie case to answer, released Ryba on his own bail of £500.
He is set to appear before Newry Crown Court on October 10 for arraignment.
The defendant was ordered to reside at an approved address and refrain from unsupervised contact.
Follow all the latest court news here.
Most read today
Operator’s Licence Notice
