A MAN has appeared in court charged with raping a young teenage girl.

Michael Bishop, 18, from Grange Road, Colburn, appeared before Northallerton Magistrates Court this morning (Friday, June 23), where he faced charges of rape and sexual assault.

He is accused of raping a teenage girl in Richmondshire in July last year and faces a second charge of sexually assaulting a teenager on the same day.

He pleaded not guilty to both offences.

At the court, Mr Bishop spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Magistrates committed the case to Teesside Crown Court for trial on July 21 and Mr Bishop was granted conditional bail.