City man in court on sex act charge; CRIME: Accused pleads not guilty to lewd activity and breaching offender order.

Byline: Emma Stone

A COVENTRY man is to stand trial after being accused of engaging in a sex act in front of a child.

Ian Roberts, of Church Lane, Stoke, also faces six charges of breaching a sex offender order following allegations he had contact with children while working at a riding school.

Yesterday at Coventry Crown Court the 43-yearold pleaded not guilty to all seven counts.

The court heard that Roberts is alleged to have engaged in sexual activity in the presence of a child under the age of 16 between July 22 and August 6 this year.

The six breaches of the sex offender order are alleged to have taken place when Roberts had contact with children at a riding school between November 1, 2008 and August 6, 2009.

The hearing was told some of the alleged breaches took place at times when Roberts worked at the riding school, during a funday held at the same riding school, while manning a barbeque when an event was being held at the school and when alone with a 14-year-old boy in woods at the edge of the riding school.

Roberts only spoke to con-firm his name and enter his pleas during the hearing.

The case is expected to go to trial in the new year, at a date to be fixed.

The trial is estimated to last four days.

Roberts was remanded into custody following yesterday's hearing and will remain there until his trial.

No application for bail was made.