A plea hearing for a 20-year-old man from the Colchester area accused of sexual offences against children has been adjourned until October 1.

Before Ipswich Crown Court today was Archie Stulpa-McCallum, from Abrey Close, Great Bentley, in north Essex.

He was arrested by police in June and subsequently charged with offences relating to four separate victims aged between 12 and 15-years-old.

The charges relate to offences alleged to have taken place between August 5 2015 and June 6 2017.

Stulpa-McCallum is accused of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13, causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity without penetration and two charges of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity without penetration.

He has also been charged with attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming, making an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child and possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Pleas were due to be entered to the charges today but the matter was adjourned for a week at the request of barristers in the case.