A DORCHESTER man has appeared in court charged with a string of sexual offences against girls.

Poundbury resident Adrian Strong, 59, faces three counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 and four counts of gross indecency with or towards a girl under the age of 16.

Prosecutor Julian Lawrence told Weymouth Magistrates Court that the charges relate to alleged offences against Mr Strong’s babysitters and go back to the 1980s.

All the alleged offences are said to have taken place between September 1987 and June 6 1989.

They involve three different alleged victims, who were children at the time of the charges and cannot be named for legal reasons.

Strong, of Stowcastle Street, Poundbury, remained impassive in the dock and spoke only to confirm his name and address.

One of the gross indecency charges states that Strong is alleged to have exposed his genitals to a girl under the age of 16 between September 18 1987 and December 31 1988.

Another alleges that he exposed himself to a different girl under the age of 16 between January 1 1988 and June 6 1989.

One of the gross indecency charges alleges that Strong committed an indecent act in the presence of a girl under the age of 16 between September 18 1987 and December 31 1988.

Another says that he committed an indecent act in front of a different girl aged under 16 between January 1 1988 and June 6 1989.

Mr Lawrence told district judge Roger House: “The allegations are that the offences were against Mr Strong’s babysitters, going back to the 1980s.

“Mr Strong is said to have stood in front of them exposing his genitals.

“There is a breach of trust element.”

Defending, Max Owen said Strong had not entered any pleas to the charges.

Strong was bailed to return to Weymouth Magistrates Court on September 23, when he will be committed to crown court because of the serious nature of the charges.