Abbots man denies sex offences

A man from Bedmond near Abbots Langley today (Friday) denied sex offences against an underage girl. Austen Reed, 35, of Bluebell Drive, appeared at St Albans crown court where he pleaded not guilty to four charges of sexual activity with a child when she was aged 13 and 14 between February 2010 and February 2011. He also denied three charges of causing the same girl to engage in sexual activity between February 2010 and February 2013. Reed admitted one charge of making (downloading) four indecent images of a child and one charge of possessing four indecent images of a child. Judge Stephen Warner listed the case for trial on the charges he denied for 16 February next year. He was granted bail.