Two defendants appeared at preliminary enquiries at Derry Magistrates' Court on Thursday and were returned for trial to Derry Crown Court on December 3.

Catherine Clare Malcolm, 46, of Grovemount Court in Derry, faced ten charges relating to perverting the course of justice by making false allegations of sexual assault and two allegations of rape on dates between December 21, 2015 and November 6, 2018.

A prosecution solicitor accepted there was a case to answer, and there were no contrary submissions.

Malcolm told the court she did not wish to call any witnesses or make any statement at this stage.

She was released on bail.

In a separate case, Alex Crawford, 27, of Kinsale Park in Derry, faced charges including domestic abuse, non-fatal strangulation, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and a threat to kill against the same female.

The alleged offending occurred on dates between April 1 and May 29 this year.

A prosecution solicitor also accepted there was a case to answer in his case, with no contrary submissions.

Crawford said he did not want to call any witnesses or make any statement.

He was returned for trial in custody.