A COUNCILLOR is to deny sex charges relating to two 12-year-old girls, a court was told yesterday.

Harry Devine, who represents his home village of Wingate, on Easington District Council, failed to appear before magistrates in Peterlee yesterday, due to ill-health for the second week running.

The court was told the 52-year-old grandfather, a divorcee, was charged with indecent assault and two counts of incitement to commit an act of gross indecency, on August 12.

The charges relate to alleged offences involving the two girls dating from June last year and May 31 this year. But he was admitted to hospital of August 14, on the eve of his first scheduled court appearance, due to cardiac problems.

His solicitor, Martin Scarborough, told the court that the "strain of the case" had brought on the illness.

"The information I have is that he was released on August 18, but he will probably need four weeks' complete rest," he said.

"It's a case which is likely to be transferred to the crown court, but he will be denying the matters anyway," added Mr Scarborough.

The hearing was adjourned for five weeks and Coun Devine was granted conditional bail, to live in the interim at an address on Teesside.