Instructor on molestation charges

A trial date in May was set at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

An instructor has appeared in court accused of molesting children at his Midlothian gymnastics school.

Mitchell Dolphin, 50, denies sexually assaulting three girls and behaving in a lewd and libidinous manner towards 12 girls over 22 years.

He also denies committing a sexual breach of the peace towards an eight-year-old boy while coaching him.

It is alleged the offences happened at Lasswade High School and LO-GY Centre, Loanhead, between 1986 and 2008.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday he denied 22 charges involving 15 children and a date was set for his trial in May.

Mr Dolphin is listed at Companies House as a director of the Midlothian Gymnastics Academy and he is also understood to be a director of the LO-GY Centre at Polton Road, Loanhead.

The charges allege he carried out the offences while engaged in gymnastics coaching and include claims he used "inappropriate stretching techniques" towards some of the children, whose ages range from seven to 17.

He is alleged to have sexually assaulted one of the girls at a caravan at Seton Sands, East Lothian.

Mr Dolphin, of Loanhead, will be on bail until his next court appearance.