A 66-year-old man appeared in court charged with sex offences dating back more than 40 years.

Roger Franklin, of Ashdene Road, Bicester, denied four counts of indecent assault of a male under 14 at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

The alleged offences took place between March 1968 and March 1970.

Franklin was bailed ahead of an ‘abuse of process’ hearing brought by his defence on December 9.

A provisional trial date of January 4 was also set.