A MAN has made his first appearance at court charged with causing grievous bodily harm to two women by giving them HIV.

Thirty-year-old Aaron John Sutcliffe was sent for trial at Crown Court by magistrates at Blackpool.

Sutcliffe faces two allegations of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on the two women from Fleetwood by having sex with them knowing he carried the virus.

The offences are said to have been committed between 2009 and 2016 at Fleetwood.

Sutcliffe now of Kings Drive, Padiham will appear before Preston Crown Court on December 20.

He was granted bail until then.

Magistrates agreed to an application by prosecutor Jim Mowbray that the names of witnesses should remain secret at this stage.

Mr Mowbray said: "These are very serious allegations and involves what the Crown says is the reckless transmission of the virus.The case will rely heavily on medical evidence."

A crown court judge will have to decide whether or not that anonymity ruling continues when Sutcliffe appears at the higher court.

Sutcliffe did not enter any pleas to the charges.