Lecturer denies US sex abuse charges

The pair were in contact for two years

A Bedfordshire college lecturer has appeared in a US court over accusations he arranged to have sex with a 15-year-old girl he met on the internet.

Jason Tsiricos, 36, from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, faces charges of "child sexually abusive activity" and using a computer for the purpose of committing the offence.

Kimberly Brown, assistant prosecuting attorney for Oakland County in Michigan, said: "He stood mute in court and the judge entered pleas of not guilty on his behalf."

Mr Tsiricos must now appear at the court in Pontiac, Oakland County, next month for a pre-trial hearing.

Web cameras

The lecturer was arrested last month at a hotel in Michigan.

Ms Brown said police were alerted by the girl's mother who had followed the youngster to the Extended Stay of America Hotel in Madison Heights from her home in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Mr Tsiricos is alleged to have been in contact with the girl via the internet for two years and they had both set up web cameras so they could see each other.

Adult students

After the arrest, Bedfordshire police were alerted and officers raided Mr Tsiricos's home where they seized his computer.

Mr Tsiricos, who taught TUC studies to adults at Dunstable College, Bedfordshire, faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

His next court appearance is on 10 October in Michigan.