A MAN charged with having images of child sex abuse and trying to have sexual communications with underage girls has been given a date for trial.

Thomas Bowden denies three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Those allegations relate to incidents in Banbury on January 21, March 9 and April 7 last year using a mobile phone application called 'Meet Me.'

The 27-year-old of Oxford Road, Banbury, is further charged with three counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

READ ALSO: Live updates on coronavirus.

It is claimed that he deleted internet history and an app from his phone, had an internet enabled device for private browsing and he separately deleted apps from his phone.

Prosecutors also claim that Bowden made indecent images of children and had a prohibited image of a child.

It is alleged that he made 52 images in the most severe category - A, 22 in category B and 47 in category C.

Bowden appeared via videolink from HMP Bullingdon at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

He was set to stand trial for those counts but in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak all new jury trials are currently on hold.

A new trial date was instead pencilled in to be held on June 15.