A MAN will face court charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order after he contacted two young children on separate occasions.

Leslie Weeding, from Colchester, was given the order in May last year.

He is now charged with four counts of breaching the order, between January 19 and February 16 this year, when he contacted a 12-year-old via Snapchat on his phone twice.

He is also accused of contacting another child via Facebook messenger, and with deliberately deleting the internet history on his phone.

Crystal Penrose, prosecuting, said Weeding was a "high-risk sex offender" having allegedly breached the order.

Weeding, 38, of Finchingfield Way, denied all four counts when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on August 22.

He is accused of contacting a child via Snapchat twice between January 19 and February 16.

He is also accused of contacting a different child, again 12-years-old, via the Facebook Messenger app on his phone.

Between January 26 and January 29 this year, Weeding is accused of deleting the internet history on his phone, after his previous phone was seized by police.

The sexual harm prevention order prohibits Weeding from doing so.

Chairman of the bench, Martin Stuchfield, heard the case and declined jurisdiction.

Blonde-haired Weeding, who wore a black jumper in the dock, will now appear at Chelmsford Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 19.

He is on unconditional bail until then - Mr Frank O'Toole represents him.