A MAN has appeared in court charged with "forcefully removing" a child from a mother's grasp at the beach in Saltcoats.

Kudzanayi Makosienyi, of Irvine, denied the allegation when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.

Court papers claim he acted in a threatening or abusive manner at the beach on South Beach Road on May 29.

It's alleged that he forcefully removed the child from their mother and refused to hand them back when asked.

The charge also claims that the child's mother had to repeatedly pull at the child to release them from the accused's grasp, and alleges that both the woman and her child were left in a state of fear and alarm as a result.

Mr Makosienyi pleaded not guilty to the single charge against him during a brief court appearance on Thursday, July 20.

A date was set for the case to go to trial and Mr Makosienyi was released on bail.