A man is to stand trial accused of battering a woman pregnant with twins so violently they were both stillborn the next day.

John Ormond appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Friday accused of attacking the woman "on various occasions" spanning more than 30 years between 1977 and 2008.

On one occasion it is alleged he seized her by the hair and pulled her from a bed before repeatedly kicking her on the body while she was 20 weeks pregnant with twins, who were delivered stillborn the following day.

Other allegations state that Ormond threw snowballs containing gravel at her, detained her against her will by locking her in a room, presented and brandished knives at her and punched and kicked her on various occasions.

Ormond, 66, of Christies Lane, Montrose, Angus, has denied assaulting his alleged victim to her injury on various occasions between December 1 1977 and December 31 2008 at various addresses in Montrose.

Defence solicitor Craig Scott asked that the case be adjourned from a trial date next month to allow the defence further time to prepare.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael set a trial date for July.