NORTH Yorkshire horse trainer David "Dandy" Nicholls will appear in court charged with sexually assaulting a woman.

The 59-year-old, from the Thirsk area, has been told by letter that he must appear before Northallerton Magistrates' Court on May 27.

Nicholls, a father of three, runs a yard with 100 horses and has been dubbed the Sprint King for his know-how in training winners.

He was a successful jockey until 1992, riding more than 400 winners, when he switched to training.

His website said: "After a successful career as a jockey he decided to turn his hand to training, and what a decision this has proved to be.

"David started training with only five horses with the help of his wife, champion lady jockey Alex Greaves, he now has around 100 under his care."

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement: "A 59-year-old man from the Thirsk area has been sent a postal requisition to appear at Northallerton Magistrates' Court on 27 May 2016 to face a sexual assault charge on a woman aged over 16."