A PORT man has been charged with attacking a dog with a knife and baton and sexually assaulting a woman.

Andrew Cowdell is also charged with assaulting another female and ripping a piercing from her nose.

Cowdell, 37, is said to have caused an Akita dog called Hugo unnecessary suffering by throwing a knife at the animal.

Prosecutors say he then went on to repeatedly strike the dog with a baton and repeatedly pull him by his tail across a room.

The alleged attack is said to have taken place within Cowdell's flat at Kelburn Terrace.

He is further charged with assaulting a female there by repeatedly punching her on the head and body, pulling her hair and striking her head with his hand.

Cowdell is alleged to have also pulled a piercing from her nose and forced her arm behind her back to injury.

The Crown says that he later sexually assaulted a woman within a flat on Greenock's Inverkip Street.

It is claimed he kissed the woman on the lips without consent, blew smoke into her mouth and forced her head onto his lap.

All of the alleged incidents are said to have taken place on April 5.

Cowdell was arrested at the time and released by police on an undertaking to appear at Greenock Sheriff Court on Friday.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges through lawyer David Tod.

Sheriff Michael Higgins granted bail on condition that Cowdell does not approach or contact either of the females.

The court heard that Hugo the dog is currently being cared for in kennels.

The case is due to call again on August 18, ahead of a trial scheduled for September 16.