Trial next year for Inverness man on rape and sexual assault charges

A MAN who allegedly failed to appear for a previous court date is to stand trial charged with rape and sexual assault.

Kim Avis today/yesterday faced 25 charges during a short hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.

The allegations span between January 1997 and March 2019 mainly at addresses in Inverness.

The accusations include claims he raped three women. He is also said to have attempted to rape one of them when she was 12.

Avis is further charged with sexually assaulting a girl when she was 11.

Prosecutors claim the 55 year-old had been due to stand trial in Edinburgh on March 11 this year, but failed to appear “without reasonable excuse”.

Amongst the other accusations on the indictment include breach of the peace as well as threatening and abusive behaviour.

Lorenzo Alonzi, defending, today pled not guilty on his behalf.

The advocate and prosecutor Graeme Jessop said they were both ready for a trial to be set.

Lady Stacey fixed a trial due to begin in March next year in Edinburgh.

The case could last around five days