A GREENOCK man is facing a catalogue of sex assault charges — including allegations he preyed on two teenage children.

James Giff is alleged to have carried out attacks on six different people — five males and one female.

The 57-year-old — who has been indicted on a total of nine charges — is due to appear at Greenock Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutors say that Giff, of Finch Road, indecently assaulted his alleged victims over a timeframe spanning four years between February 2007 and December 2011.

During an initial hearing, procurator fiscal depute Pamela Brady told the court that there are 18 civilian and 11 police witnesses cited to give evidence at a scheduled trial next month.

Giff is accused of touching the private parts of the people he is alleged to have assaulted and is claimed to have supplied alcohol to one underage boy.

The people named in the charges were aged 14, 15, 18, 19 and 36 at the time of the alleged offences.

As well as claims he sexually assaulted a boy of 14, Giff is further charged with striking the youngster on the face, breaking his glasses and placing him in a state of fear.

Giff is also charged with giving drink to a 15-year-old boy and placing his hand inside his clothing. He is further accused of molesting a 36-year-old woman on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day 2011 — and breaching a strict bail order not to contact one of the underage boys.

Giff had been due to stand trial in January this year following a previous first calling of the case but prosecution proceedings have been delayed until now. Defence lawyer Andrew Kennedy told the court: “There has been a considerable history to this matter but we will be ready for trial.” Giff is scheduled to face a jury on 4 August.