A 70-year-old Suffolk man has denied abusing two girls over a period of 10 years.

Mervyn Walker entered not guilty pleas to six historic abuse charges at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, in Ipswich, on Monday.

Walker, of Oliver Road, Bury St Edmunds, faced two counts of indecently assaulting a girl under 14 between July 1998 and 2000, one of gross indecency with a girl under 14 during the same period, and three of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 between October 2006 and 2009.

Hendrika Tatam, prosecuting, said the starting point for conviction for the alleged offences was a three-year custodial term.

District Judge Susan Holdham said the charges were too serious to be dealt with at magistrates’ court.

Walker, represented by Declan Gallagher, was released on conditional bail to appear at Ipswich Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on December 11.