A RAPE-accused Herefordshire man has been remanded in custody ahead of his appearance at the crown court.

James Harrison appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster in November accused of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two of rape, and two of intimidating a witness.

The court heard from prosecutor Eleanor Peart that the 20-year-old is accused of assaulting a woman, causing her actual bodily harm, in Worcester between October 31 and December 1, 2021, and between November 30, 2021, and January 1, 2022.

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He is also accused of raping a woman aged 16 or over, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in Worcester on March 16 and between May 12 and 18.

He is further accused of, knowing or believing that a victim was a witness in proceedings for an offence, attending their place of work, which intimidated them and was intended to intimidate them, with the intention of causing the investigation to be obstructed, perverted, or interfered with, on November 14 and November 18.

Harrison, who is of Kipling Road, Ledbury, was remanded in custody and will appear before Worcester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on December 19.

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