A SUSPECT has been charged with sexually assaulting a young child on a bus in Warrington.

The allegation relates to an incident reported on the number three bus service from Warrington Bus Station to Martinscroft in September last year.

It is alleged that the suspect was a passenger travelling on the bus on his own, before he allegedly touched a young child in an inappropriate manner.

The incident was reported to Cheshire Police and the defendant was arrested shortly after in connection with the incident.

He also faces an allegation that he was in possession of a quantity of the controlled class B drug cannabis following a search.

Mukhtar Baloch has now been charged with assault a girl under 13 by touching and possession of a controlled drug of class B.

The assault charge alleges that the defendant touched the child, whose anonymity is protected by law and must not be identified, and that the touching was sexual.

The 31-year-old, whose address is listed on court documents as Garden Court Hotel on Woolston Grange Avenue, made a first appearance in relation to the charges before Chester Magistrates’ Court last week.

Magistrates sent the case to Liverpool Crown Court, with a plea and trial preparation hearing set for next month

Baloch was subsequently remanded in custody to appear before the crown court on this date.