A north-east man has denied sexually assaulting two women – by jumping on their backs.
Colin Spence is also accused of asking women to help him by giving him a piggyback.
The 47-year-old denied three charges when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Spence is facing two charges of sexual assault and one breach of the peace.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place over a four-week period.
Spence is claimed to have sexually assaulted a woman on August 7 at the B9120 road at Laurencekirk by seizing her by the body “without invite” before jumping on her back.
He is also accused of sexually assaulting a second woman on September 3 at the Old Deeside railway line in Aberdeen by grabbing her by the body and climbing on her back.
Spence is further accused of a breach of the peace.
It is alleged that between August 7 and September 4 at various locations in the north-east, including a wooden walkway at Stonehaven Beach and the A92 Stonehaven to Inverbervie road, Spence conducted himself in a “disorderly manner”.
Prosecutors claim he approached female members of the public that he didn’t know before repeatedly falling on the ground.
It is alleged he went on to “present himself as being injured” before asking the woman to place him on their backs.
Yesterday solicitor Liam McAllister told the court that the defence wished reports to be carried out in advance of the trial.
He asked for another pre-trial hearing to be fixed for next week.
Spence, whose address was given in court papers as Roadside Croft, Findon, Portlethen, will go on trial in January.