A MAN accused of 'controlling' and 'coercive' behaviour as well as assaulting a woman has denied any wrong-doing.

Alan Cottingham faces two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of assault by beating.

The 52-year-old of Seacourt Road, Oxford is further charged with making a threat to kill and controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate family relationship.

The charges he faces are all alleged to have taken place in Oxford between 2017 and 2019.

They are all claimed to have involved one woman victim.

Cottingham appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

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At that brief hearing he pleaded not guilty to each of the five charges that he faces.

After the pleas had been entered at court a trial date was pencilled in to take place next year.

That trial will take place at the same court on February 15.

The case is estimated to last between five and seven days.

An alternative trial date which was proposed for September was not agreed as presiding Judge Ian Pringle QC said there was only a 'remote' chance it would go ahead because of the social distancing measures in place at court.

Cottingham was released on bail to await his date for trial.