A Banbridge man has appeared in court accused of multiple child sexual offences, alleged to have been committed over the course of approximately one year.
James Qua, 29, from Newry Road, faces eight charges in total comprising of single counts of sexual communication with a child, possessing and making an indecent image of child, causing a child aged under 13 to watch a sexual act, inciting a child under 13 to engage in a sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image.
Offending is alleged to have occurred on various dates between February 1, 2022 and February 15, 2023.
A police officer told Banbridge Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Newry, all charges could be connected.
No details surrounding the circumstances of the alleged offending were disclosed during the short hearing, however a prosecuting lawyer advised the case is being considered for direct transfer to crown court.
District Judge Eamon King set bail at £250 and ordered Qua to have no contact with the child complainant and a number of other witnesses, nor any person aged under 18.
He is also banned from possessing any internet-capable device unless approved by police, who must be permitted access at any time.
The case is to return to court on August 17.
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