An Irvine man will face trial after he denied assaulting a taxi driver in the town.

James Queen Cummings, 34, of Bell Crescent, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week on three separate charges.

He denied allegedly behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on March 15 in a taxi between Bank Street, Irvine and Bell Crescent, by allegedly shouting, swearing and threatening to rob the driver, repeatedly kicking the door and placing the driver in a state of fear or alarm.

Cummings also denied assaulting the driver by seizing and pulling him by the jacket.

The third charge that Cummings denied intimated that he allegedly acting in a racially aggravated manner in a police vehicle by repeatedly mimicking the Irish accent of a police officer.

He pleaded not guilty to the three charges and was remanded in custody.