A Charedi man has pleaded not guilty to raping a 12-year-old boy in a synagogue lavatory.

Moshe Reichman, 24, from Golders Green, North-West London, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday and will face trial in January 2009, accused of four offences.

He has been charged with raping a child under the age of 13, sexual activity with a child, and two charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The charges all relate to one incident alleged to have taken place between 2004 and 2005. Mr Reichman denies all four charges. The victim cannot be named because of his age.

Mr Reichman's barrister, Gary Grant, persuaded Judge David Radford to change his bail conditions which prohibited him from entering any synagogue. Judge Radford agreed that he can now attend the Biala Synagogue in Clapton as long as he is with one of eight chaperones, all rabbis and members of the Charedi community.