A FORMER gymnastics teacher has appeared in court accused of a string of sex offences against young girls.

David Schadek is alleged to have committed the offences across Europe between 2004 and 2017.

He is charged with seven counts of assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by touching and two counts of inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Schadek, of Fenno Close, Colchester, is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by sending a message to the mother of one of the complainants and visiting their home address.

The incidents are said to have taken place in locations including Jersey, Malta, Luxembourg and Holland.

They relate to different complainants.

The 61-year-old was not asked to enter any pleas to the charges when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court after the bench decided the sexual offences were too serious to be dealt with at the lower court.

He was committed to Chelmsford Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation next month.

Schadek, who was not represented at this hearing, indicated he would deny all of the allegations.

Chairman of the bench Elisabeth Connor granted him bail on the condition he did not speak to any of the complainants in the case.

She said: “It is important you make sure your legal advisor is there on the next occasion.

“You must attend Chelmsford Crown Court on the date you are given which will be close to November 10.

“If you do not then you are committing a criminal offence.

“If you commit any other offences while on bail they are treated more seriously.

“If you break your bail conditions then you will be brought back to court and your bail could be reassessed.”