A man is accused of sexually abusing a woman suffering from a mental disorder.
Nicholas Gillinder allegedly molested a woman who was "unable to refuse" by touching her sexually.
He is accused of touching her genitalia and also kissing and hugging her on four separate occasions.
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The 50-year-old stood in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday and denied three counts of "sexual activity with a mentally disordered female".
Gillinder, of Hart Street, Southport, who wore an open white shirt with a cross and a grey hooded top, appeared before Judge Stuart Driver, QC.
He spoke only to confirm his personal details and to enter not guilty pleas to all the charges.
Jonathan Rogers, prosecuted the case on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service and Alaric Walmsley represented Gillinder.
According to the first charge, over a two-month period in 2019 he is alleged to have "intentionally touched a woman who was unable to refuse because of or for a reason related to a mental disorder, when you knew or could reasonably be expected to have known that she had such a disorder and that because of it, or for a reason related to it, she was likely to be unable to refuse and that touching was sexual, namely kissing and hugging her".
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Between the same dates he is charged with the same offence allegedly involving "kissing and hugging her on at least three other occasions".
He is also alleged on a date in 2019 to have touched the woman's genitalia.
After Gillinder denied the three charges a trial was listed for 2021.
Judge Driver said: "Nicholas Gillinder your trial will take place in the week of May 16 with an estimate of three to four days."
Gillinder was released on conditional bail until that date.
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