A CROWN court date has been set for a man accused of raping a woman near a Southampton shopping centre.

As previously reported, a 21-year-old woman was allegedly raped outside Westquay shopping centre just before 8am on Saturday, February 15.

Police closed off an area to the right of the main entrance to John Lewis off Harbour Parade.

Krystian Kwarta, aged 20, of Keyhaven Road, Milford-on-Sea has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where he did not enter a plea, and is next due to appear at Southampton Crown Court on March 20.