A man has pleaded not guilty to sexual offences and kidnappings against women in Harpenden in the early 2000s, having appeared in court on Monday.

Alec Housden, of Kingsbury Gardens, Dunstable, denied the offences at St Albans Crown Court this afternoon.

Get more stories like this delivered to your inbox every week by signing up to the Herts Ad In Brief newsletter.

The 59-year-old was arrested at his home address at 7am on March 22, on suspicion of two sexual assaults and three kidnappings, and charged after appearing at Hatfield Remand Court on March 23.

The charges relate to an indecent assault on a female and kidnap on Sunday, April 7, 2002 in Piggottshill Lane, Harpenden, an indecent assault on a female and kidnap on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 in the same location, and kidnap on Wednesday, March 17, 2004.

READ MORE: Alec Housden in court over sexual offence charges

A trial date has been set for Monday, September 4, 2023.