A man from Huddersfield has joined 21 other defendants who have already denied historic sex offences on the same schoolgirl.

Mansoor Akhtar, 24, was one of two men who appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday who pleaded not guilty to the charges facing them.

A total of 25 defendants have been charged following a police investigation.

Two others have yet to enter their pleas.

The defendants have been split into four groups facing trials next year. A court order is in place preventing the full address of any defendant being given.

Akhtar denied two charges of sexual activity with a child between July 20, 2010 and 21 July 2011 and a further charge of supplying the schoolgirl with cannabis.

Police released details of the investigation into the allegations back in February.

They said the alleged offences took place between 2006 and 2011.

The men are mainly from Halifax and Bradford but also include the Huddersfield man.

The charges include rape, people trafficking for sexual exploitation, sexual activity with a child under 16, voyeurism and sexual assault.

A drugs charge was also made.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said two days had been fixed in August this year for a ground rules hearing when questions are agreed for cross-examination of the schoolgirl complainant before the videoing of her cross-examination takes place in September.

The evidence of child or vulnerable complainants has been recorded on video to be played as their evidence in chief at trial for several years and Leeds Crown Court is currently one of the centres piloting a new system where the cross-examination is also done and videod in advance of a trial.