A 45-YEAR-old man who denies rape will wait until 2025 to be tried.
Zulqarnain Choudhary, speaking through a Punjabi interpreter, confirmed his details before entering his pleas at Worcester Crown Court.
Choudhary, of Mortlake Avenue, Worcester, denied rape of a woman alleged to have taken place in Worcester on November 20, 2021.
Choudhary is accused of sexual assault - that he allegedly touched the complainant's breasts without consent - and assault by penetration without consent.
Those two offences are said by the prosecution to also have taken place on November 20, 2021.
During the hearing the stage dates - when prosecution and defence will reveal their cases - were set.
Choudhary, who wore a Covid mask in court, was then told to stand by His Honour Judge Martin Jackson.
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The judge told Choudhary his trial will take place on February 10, 2025.
Judge Jackson explained the lengthy wait was due to a backlog of cases caused by a combination of factors including the Covid backlog, the ceiling collapse of Hereford's Shirehall and last year's barristers strike.
The judge said: "I give you bail without conditions but I remind you bail is an obligation to come to court for all hearings."
Glyn Samuels prosecuted while William Dudley defended during the hearing at the court on Thursday, (July 20).
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