A 38-YEAR-OLD Weston man has appeared in court charged with eight sexual offences relating to his stepdaughter.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges last week.

The offences relate to inciting sexual activity and non-penetrative sexual activity with the female, who was aged under 16 at the time of the alleged incidents.

We are also unable to identify the alleged victim of the offences.

The man is alleged to have carried out the offences outside of the girl’s family home over a substantial period of time.

The court heard how he is accused of offences ranging from stroking the youngster’s leg to touching her intimately.

It is also claimed that he incited her to touch him intimately when she went to visit him at an address where he was staying.

He has yet to enter a plea and the case is due to be heard in the crown court.

The official charges the defendant is facing are four counts of inciting sexual activity with a family member aged under 17, as well as four of adult sexual activity with a family member under the age of 17.

The man appeared in the dock before magistrates last week, speaking only to confirm his name and address.

He was released on conditional bail.

n It is an offence in most cases for the media to reveal any details leading to the identification of the complainant of a sexual offence, throughout their lifetime.

Because of the family relationship between the alleged victim and the defendant in this case, we are also unable to reveal the name of the accused to protect the victim’s anonymity.