Charged with 10 sex assaults

A MAN has appeared in court charged with 10 sexual assaults over claims lone women were sprayed with a “white sticky substance” in Newcastle.

Marius Trifan is accused of riding up behind women walking on university campuses on a pedal cycle and squirting the substance from a syringe “over their backs and bottoms”.

The 29-year-old, of Dilston Road, Arthur’s Hill, made no plea during the brief hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Wearing a red T-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms, he confirmed his name and age via a Romanian translator over the phone in court.

The assaults are alleged to have happened over two days – February 12 and February 14 this year.

Prosecutor Bethany Jendrzejewski said the case should be sent to crown court due to the seriousness of the allegations.

She told the court: “The defendant is alleged to have committed a series of sexual assaults on 10 separate victims by riding up behind them on a pedal cycle and squirting a white, sticky substance over their backs and bottoms.”

Ms Jendrzejewski added that the alleged victims were “women walking alone on university campuses”.

The case was adjourned for a further hearing at Newcastle Crown Court on March 20.

Trifan, who was said to have arrived in the UK two months ago, was remanded in custody.