AN ACCUSED Hereford man has been sent to the crown court over allegations of sex chats with a child.

Paul James Barnfield appeared before magistrates in Hereford in March accused of one count of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and one count of attempting to cause or incite a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Barnfield, who was represented at the hearing by defence solicitor Marilena Di Vitantonio, did not enter a plea to either charge at the hearing.

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The court heard from prosecutor Eleanor Peart that the 40-year-old is accused of attempting to engage in communications of a sexually explicit nature with a young teenage girl, who he did not reasonably believe to be 16 or over, in Hereford between April 3, 2017, and October 30, 2018.

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He is also accused of attempting to incite a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity between November 2, 2016, and October 30, 2018.

The case was sent to the crown court and Barnfield, of Carr Lane, Hereford, was released on unconditional bail.

He will appear before Worcester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on April 19.