A man accused of committing sexual assault at a church service in Swindon will face a trial.

Michael Tekle, 43, loudly insisted he was innocent throughout a court hearing at Swindon Magistrates' Court on July 30 after formally entering a not guilty plea. 

He was accused of sexually assaulting a woman on September 23 last year, during a church service in the town. 

Magistrates decided to defer the case to Swindon Crown Court, stating: "Our powers of punishment if found guilty, would not be sufficient, so we will be sending this to crown court."

Tekle is due to appear at Swindon Crown Court on August 29.