A former DUP mayor has denied two charges of child sexual offences.
Thomas Hogg, 31, of Braehill Park in Belfast, is charged with sexual communication with a child in addition to a charge of alleged attempted incitement to engage in sexual activity.
Both charges relate to a specified date of September 28 this year.
Mr Hogg appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Monday.
During the brief hearing, the court heard a detective say he believed he could connect the accused with the charges.
The court heard that Mr Hogg strongly denies the charges.
Hogg's next court appearance will take place on December 9.
District Judge Fiona Bagnall excused Hogg from attending on that date.
The 31-year-old resigned from the DUP earlier this month after he was charged with the offences.
He also resigned as a councillor in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
He served as mayor of Newtownabbey from 2014-15 and was awarded an MBE in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to local government.
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