A MAN has denied sending indecent or offensive Facebook messages to a Bolton MP over a three-and-a-half year period.

Tyrone Gallacher appeared at Bolton Magistrates’ Court yesterday accused of sending Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi ‘indecent or grossly offensive’ electronic communications for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety.

The messages were allegedly sent to the MP between May 9 2014 and January 13 this year.

Gallacher, aged 48 and of Gregson Field, Great Lever, indicated a not guilty plea to the offence in court yesterday morning.

He asked for the case to be sent to Bolton Crown Court for trial.

Gallacher also pleaded not guilty to an unrelated offence of assault on January 11 this year.

He will now appear at Bolton Crown Court on March for a pre-trial preparation hearing in relation to the offensive messages and will stand trial for the assault by beating on March 27 at Bolton Magistrates' Court.

Gallacher was released on bail by the magistrates until the hearings next month.

Ms Qureshi was first elected to represent Bolton South East at the 2010 general election and became one of Britain's first female Muslim MPs.

She was reelected in 2015 and 2017 and in October 2016 she was appointed as a Shadow Minister for Justice.