Teenager denies sex assault of boy, aged four, in Hawick
A teenager has appeared in court charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting a four-year-old boy.
Jordan Shepherd, 18, pleaded not guilty to an allegation that he abused the child on various occasions in Hawick, between December 2010 and April 2011.
Prosecutors also allege that he abused the boy at an unknown park and performed a series of sex acts on him.
A further hearing was set for 14 February to allow Mr Shepherd's legal team to prepare his case.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the abuse allegedly stopped when the boy - who cannot be named for legal reasons - turned five.
Mr Shepherd, of Fraser Avenue, Hawick, also pleaded not guilty to a charge that he made a series of sexual comments towards a six-year-old boy between January and April last year.
He is also alleged to have tried to get the boy - who also cannot be identified for legal reasons - to expose himself.
Sheriff James Scott agreed to set another hearing for the case for later this month.