A GROOMING accused man charged with communicating indecently with an underage girl is set to stand trial at Greenock Sheriff Court - more than three years after the alleged offences are said to have begun.

Simon Mitchell, 41, is said to have messaged a schoolgirl on various occasions over a nine-month period when the alleged victim was aged 14 and 15.

The indictment case previously went to trial but it was deserted because of the complainer's ill health.

A first diet hearing this week was told by Mitchell's solicitor, Paul Keenan, that 'it is accepted that the complainer will never be in a position to give evidence'.

Despite a legal challenge from the defence, Sheriff Ireland granted a Crown submission by procurator fiscal depute Maria Murdoch that evidence previously given by the complainer, by way of a transcript of a statement, would be admissible in her absence.

Mitchell, whose address was listed as Gosport in the south of England, is said to have induced and attempted to induce the alleged female victim to send him indecent images of her naked body.

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It is further claimed he attempted to induce the girl to touch her private parts.

Court papers state Mitchell attempted to meet her 'with the intention of engaging, during or after the meeting, in unlawful sexual activity involving said person or in the presence of said person'.

Prosecutors say that he did this after meeting or communicating with the youngster 'on at least one earlier occasion' and whilst not reasonably believing that she was aged 16 or over.

He is accused of committing the alleged offences at a property in the Larkfield area of Greenock.

Defence solicitor Mr Keenan told a previous court hearing that a further adjournment in the protracted case 'would cause significant difficulty to the accused'.

He said: "The case is of some age, it has already proceeded to trial and his mental health is suffering quite a lot.

"It is weighing heavily on his mind right now."

The lawyer maintained his client's plea of not guilty to the alleged offences and a four-day jury trial is scheduled to start on September 18.