Date set for former Inverness busker Kim Avis to stand trial at the High Court in Edinburgh on charges of rape and sexual assault

Kim Avis is set to go on trial in March next year for a string of alleged offences against women and girls.

Avis today faced 25 charges during a short hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.

The allegations span a period of more than 20 years between January 1997 and March 2019, mainly at addresses in Inverness.

Accusations include claims he raped three women and also attempted to rape one of them when she was 12.

He is further charged with sexually assaulting a girl when she was 11.

Prosecutors claim the 55-year-old had been due to stand trial in Edinburgh on March 11 this year, but failed to appear "without reasonable excuse".

Amongst other accusations on the indictment are a breach of the peace and an incident of threatening and abusive behaviour.

Lorenzo Alonzi, defending, entered a plea of not guilty on Avis's behalf.

Prosecutor Graeme Jessop said both sides were ready for a trial to be set.

Lady Stacey fixed a trial due to begin in March next year in Edinburgh.

The case could last around five days.