AN Ilminster man has appeared in court charged with a series of allegations of rape, serious sexual assaults and common assaults involving a woman and a young girl.

David Dymond, 25, of Station Road, was brought before Somerset Magistrates in custody after being arrested by police following the alleged incidents at various locations in Chard and Ilminster last week.

The defendant was charged with two counts of sexual assault by penetration on a girl aged under 13, namely 12, at an address in Ilminster on February 24.

He was also alleged to have raped a woman over the age of 16 on the same date on land at Jocelyn Park in Chard.

Dymond was further charged with two offences of assaulting the same woman by beating her at an address in Ilminster on February 24 and at the Travelodge at Horton Cross on February 23.

The defendant did not enter any pleas to the offences when they were read out before the court in Yeovil.

The magistrates said that the case was so serious that he must be sent straight to Taunton Crown Court to stand trial.

They adjourned all five matters until March 27 when Dymond must appear before a pre trial hearing at Taunton.

Until then he was remanded in custody after no application was made for bail.

Jocelyn Park in Chard was cordoned off at the weekend as part of the police investigation and two football games had to be abandoned as the investigation continued on Saturday.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "The park was cordoned off as part of our investigation.

"David Dymond, 25, of Station Road, Ilminster, was charged on suspicion of rape of a female."

Chard United Reserves v Crewkerne Rangers and Chard Rangers Reserves v Forton Rangers Reserves were both postponed with the Perry Street and District League website saying: "Game postponed: pitch unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances."