A man accused of groping a woman's leg in a car outside Sittingbourne railway station will stand trial next year.

Amari Ward, 31, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today (October 10) where he pleaded not guilty to an offence of sexual assault.

It is alleged he touched the woman without her consent on Tuesday, September 10, before reportedly catching a train to London. He was arrested the next day in Croydon.

The court heard during the brief plea and trial preparation hearing that Ward "accepts touching her above the knee, denies it was higher up, denies it was sexual and believed there was reasonable consent to the touching".

His lawyer, Tommy Seagull, reiterated that there was a denial his client touched the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, "in the place" as alleged, as well as a denial that the touching was sexual.

Judge Julian Smith fixed Ward's trial to start on February 24 next year. It is expected to last three days.

Ward appeared via video link with Thameside Prison in south east London. Having been remanded into custody and asked by the judge if his explanation of the proceedings was "all clear", he replied: Yep. Sweet mate."