Romanian teenager in court charged with raping schoolgirl
19 year old Samuel Ciornei appeared in court from custody
A Romanian teenager has appeared in court charged with raping a 14 year old girl in Barrhead.
19 year old Samuel Ciornei has been remanded in custody over claims he sexually assaulted the youngster on Sunday evening.
Prosecutors claim he grabbed the youngster, who can't be named for legal reasons, and dragged her in to bushes next to the shopping centre in the town's Main Street.
The alleged attack took place at around 8.15pm on Sunday, August 7, when the girl went to collect her bicycle after leaving Asda.
An investigation was launched to track down the culprit and, during the probe, suspicion fell on Ciornei.
He was arrested on Tuesday, August 9 and was held at Helen Street police office, in Glasgow's Govan area, overnight, pending a court appearance.
He was led in to the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court in handcuffs this afternoon to face a charge under Section 1 and 3 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.
He made no plea or declaration to the sex assault charge, and a second charge of theft, during the short hearing, where he was represented by defence solicitor Jonathan Manson, with the aid of a Romanian interpreter.
Bail was opposed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, who were represented in court by Procurator Fiscal Depute Hazel Emmerson.
The case against Ciornei was continued for prosecutors to investigate further and he was remanded in custody by Sheriff James Spy.
A second court hearing is due to take place next week.