A MAN charged with repeatedly raping and sexually abusing a young child has had his trial delayed.

Joshua Dodd is charged with six counts of rape of a girl under 13, three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration and one of assault of a girl under 13.

Prosecutors claim that the 27-year-old carried out the string of offences on two child victims - neither of whom can be named for legal reasons.

Dodd was set to stand trial for the 10 counts that he faces on April 27.

However, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic no new jury trials across the country are going ahead and cases that had soon-to-be-heard fixtures have been temporarily postponed.

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At a brief hearing at Oxford Crown Court today prosecutor Alan Gardner said that the trial date had been 'vacated' as a result.

Presiding, Judge Ian Pringle QC said: "The picture changes so quickly.

"We don't know whether in two or three weeks time we might be in a better situation to actually give a trial date."

The case was adjourned to a trial date to be fixed and for a mention hearing which will take place at the same court on April 27.

On that day - which was the original trial date - it is expected another date for trial will be set.