A MAN accused of sexually grooming a boy before trying to meet him has appeared at court.

Anthony Cunningham appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court yesterday facing two counts.

The 59-year-old of Long Ground, Oxford, is charged with attempting to meet a boy under 16 following grooming and attempting to incite a boy to engage in sexual activity.

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At the hearing prosecutors said Cunningham communicated sexually with a boy he believed to be 14 between May 5 and 12 using social networking app Grindr.

It is alleged that during the communication he sent a number of sexual images to what he thought was a child.

That 'boy' was actually an undercover police officer, prosecutors said, and Cunningham agreed to meet with him on Tuesday.

It is claimed that Cunningham went to the agreed meeting spot but was met instead by police officers and he was arrested.

At the court hearing Cunningham did not enter a plea to either of the counts he faces.

District Judge Kamlesh Rana, presiding, said that the matters were 'too serious for me to deal with at this court.'

The case was therefore sent to the upper court to be heard.

Cuningham will appear for his appearance at Oxford Crown Court on June 12.

He was remanded in custody to await that hearing.