A former clerk to Tynwald, Professor St John Bates, has denied a charge of indecently assaulting a child.

Professor Bates, aged 74, of Mona Street, Douglas, appeared before Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes on Tuesday.

He is also charged with gross indecency with a person under 16 years for which a plea is yet to be entered.

The indecent assault of a seven-year-old girl is alleged to have taken place on July 3.

The second offence, of gross indecency, can only be heard at the Court of General Gaol Delivery while the first offence of indecent assault on a child can be heard at summary court or the higher court.

Prosecutor James Robinson submitted that both offences should go to the higher court.

The Deputy High Bailiff said that she would make a decision on whether the first offence should go to the higher court on December 4 when committal takes places for the second offence.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with conditions that Professor Bates live at his home address, does not contact witnesses and does not leave the island without court permission.

Professor Bates taught constitutional, commercial and EU law before serving as the clerk of Tynwald, secretary of the House of Keys and counsel to the Speaker of the Keys from 1987 and 2001.

He set up a consultancy company in 2001.

His clients include the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Council of Europe.

During his career, Professor Bates has also been a specialist adviser to what is now the House of Lords select committee on the European Union and to the House of Commons justice committee, a member of the advisory committee on the drafting of the initial standing orders of the Scottish Parliament, and a procedural adviser to several other parliaments.