A MAN facing 22 charges of rape, assault and sexual assault on Weston girls as young as five has denied all the offences.

Paul Danvers, who previously lived in Weston but now lives in Stechford Lane in Birmingham, appeared in North Somerset Courthouse on Tuesday.

The 46-year-old faces six rape charges, a charge of malicious poisoning and an assault charge relating to adults.

He also faces three charges of assaulting a child, two charges of raping a female under 16, three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14 and two charges of rape involving a girl under 13.

He also faces, and has denied, charges of assault by penetration of a five year old and a six year old and two charges of inciting a five year old to touch him indecently.

The alleged offences took place between January 1, 2002, and July 1, 2006.

He will be appearing at Bristol Crown Court on September 2 for a preliminary hearing.