A man is to stand trial accused of raping three women while they were sleeping and sexually assaulting a ten-year-old in a series of attacks.
Daniel Malone faces a total of 19 charges, including claims he attacked two pregnant women, that are said to have occurred in Kirkcaldy and Cardenden, both Fife, as well as a number of addresses in Aberdeen between 2006 and 2020.
The first woman the 31-year-old allegedly raped is also said have been physically assaulted when she was pregnant as well having her hand pushed into a food blender.
Prosecutors state this was to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
It is claimed Malone was violent to the second woman he is accused of raping.
This includes allegations that he pressed his knees against her stomach, grabbed her throat and restricted her breathing while she was expecting a baby.
He is separately accused of molesting the third woman he is said to have raped.
Among the other charges are claims Malone sexually assaulted another woman as well as a ten-year-old girl.
The final accusation is that he spat at police and acted aggressively at Kittybrewster Custody Suite in Aberdeen.
The case called for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow, where Malone’s QC Ronnie Renucci pled not guilty on his behalf.
Lady Scott set a trial due to begin in July next year in Edinburgh.
It is thought the case could last up to seven days.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
