A TRIAL will take place next year after a man denied a string of child cruelty offences.

Luke Baxendale, 32, appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday to deny 12 counts of cruelty to a person under 16 and three counts of making threats to kill.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place in Sible Hedingham, Halstead, with the child cruelty charges relating to a seven-year period between 2016 and 2023.

The charges of threats to kill relate to a two-year period from 2021 to 2023.

The trial, which is estimated to take at least two weeks, will begin next April.

Baxendale, of Katrine Place, Milton Keynes, was denied bail by Judge Jamie Sawyer and will remain in custody.

Addressing Baxter, Judge Sawyer said: “By the stage two date that I have given of January 13, 2025, you must provide a defence statement – that sets out the details of your defence.

“I have fixed the case for trial on April 22.

“You will be produced back at this court.

“The next hearing date will be a ground rules hearing on February 17.

“Thank you very much for attending court today – you can go with the officers.”