A Newton Abbot man has appeared in court accused of physical or sexual assaults on five different women over the space of 26 years.

Richard Choules, aged 50, of Twickenham Road, denied two counts of rape, five of sexual or indecent assault and one of causing actual bodily harm.

The offences are alleged to have started with the physical assault on one woman in 1989 and to the sexual assaults against four others over three decades.

Choules was remanded in custody by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court, who set a provisional trial date for January next year.