A FORMER Labour council candidate has denied sexually abusing a child.
Adam Buckenham entered not guilty pleas to charges including rape, child sex abuse, taking indecent photographs of a child and voyeurism.
In all, he has been charged with 20 offences.
The 45-year-old, who now lives on the Isle of Wight, stood in the Andover Downlands ward for Labour in the 2019 Test Valley Borough Council elections.
He is also the former chairman of the Picket Twenty Neighbourhood Watch.
Buckenham, of York Road, Ventnor, is alleged to have incited the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to engage in sexual activity.
He is also accused of three counts of taking indecent photographs of the child, and one count of recording them performing a private act without consent.
Appearing via video link at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday, Buckenham entered not guilty pleas to all charges.
He will stand trial at the same court on September 6.
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