A park ranger charged with indecent assault and a sexual offence against two teenage youths appeared at Preston Magistrates' Court.

John Robinson, 38, of Thornley Road, Preston, appeared on Tuesday charged with an indecent assault on a 16-year-old boy in 2002. The second charge is of engaging in non-penetrative sex with a 14-year-old boy in July this year.

He was committed for trail at Preston Crown Court in the new year and was granted bail on condition of not having unsupervised contact with minors, and not to enter Preston unless to attend court or visit his solicitor.

His solicitor, John Rimmer, speaking on his behalf, entered no plea for the first offence and not guilty to the second.

Nicola Corney, designated case worker for the Crown Prosecution Service, described the details of the first charge: "It is alleged that he has touched him on the penis and made him masturbate while he was sleeping."

She said the circumstances were similar in the second offence.

For these reasons she said the case was too serious to be dealt with by magistrates and should be heard at the Crown Court.

Mr Rimmer agreed, and the case was adjourned to Preston Crown Court to re-start on January 10, 2006.

Mr Robinson has been suspended from work as park ranger at Grange Park by his employers, Preston City Council.

He has been the park's ranger since 2000 and helped the park achieve Green Flag status in 2002 for high standards of maintenance, community involvement and overall management of the area.

A council spokesman said: "We understand that one of our employees has been charged with offences that are alleged to have occurred in the employee's own time and are not connected with work.

"Clearly though, public safety is of the up most importance. Given the nature of the allegations and in accordance with normal procedures, we have suspended the employee and will be reviewing the situation and responding as appropriate."