THE trial of a former Powys man accused of sexually assaulting a child has been put back to later this year, because there is no prosecutor available next week.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard on Wednesday, April 5, that the trial of Nicholas Kayhan Hassan Hardiman, due to start on Tuesday, April 11, will now have to be pushed back to August.

Hardiman, 48, who formerly lived on Grosvenor Road, Llandrindod Wells, but who now lives in Corby, Northamptonshire, is charged with two offences in total.

Charge one alleges he assaulted a female teenager, by penetration. Charge two says he sexually assaulted a teenage girl. Both offences are alleged to have taken place between October 31 and December 1, 2018.

He entered not guilty pleas to both offences on March 31.

Hardiman’s trial is now set to begin on August 14.