A taxi driver accused of raping a woman at a North East beach is to stand trial.
Ian Phillips, 46, allegedly attacked a woman he picked up in his cab outside a nightclub in Sunderland in a car park at a beach.
Phillips, of Noble Street, Easington Colliery, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday morning where he entered a ‘not guilty’ plea to a charge of rape.
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A trial date has been fixed for February 26 next year and there will be further hearing at Newcastle Crown Court on September 26.
Phillips has been granted conditional bail until then.
The trial is expected to last five days.
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