A Lurgan man who is accused of sexually assaulting and grooming a child under the age of 13 will face Crown Court proceedings next month.
The 36-year-old appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday for the purposes of a preliminary enquiry (PE), the legal process during which a case is referred to the higher court.
Gavin Gowdy, of Dingwell Park, is charged with sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming and sexual assault of a child under 13.
As the charges were read, it was heard that all of the offences were alleged to have occurred between March 1 and May 31, of 2017.
The defendant is accused of committing all of the offences on the same alleged female injured party.
Appearing in court, Gowdy 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.
Defence barrister Conor Lunny made no contrary submissions.
District Judge Bernie Kelly, satisfied there was a prima facie case to answer, released the defendant on his own bail of £500 to appear before Craigavon Crown Court on October 14 for arraignment.
Conditions of this bail included a ban on any device which has access to the internet and no contact with the injured party or her family.
