TWO county women are to stand trial accused of assaulting a man by inserting batteries into his backside.

Colette Kerr, 50, and Claire Buchan, 37, are alleged to have carried out a brutal attack on the man in his East Lothian home in June 2019.

Kerr, of Dean Court, Whitecraig, and Buchan, of Fowlers Court, Prestonpans, are alleged to have assaulted the man by seizing him by the clothing, pulling him to the floor and pulling down his lower clothing.

The women are then alleged to have exposed the man’s buttocks and repeatedly inserted batteries into his anus.

Court papers also allege that the pair repeatedly kicked the man to the head and body, all to his injury, at his home address on June 4, 2019.

Kerr is also facing an allegation of stealing a wallet, a mobile phone and a bank card during the same alleged incident.

Both accused were absent when the case called at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, where the pair’s lawyers lodged not guilty pleas on their behalf.

Solicitor Neil Martin, for Kerr, said he had advised his client not to attend due to her suffering from “various medical” conditions.

While defence agent Andrew Mellor, for Buchan, told the court that he had no explanation for his client’s absence.

Sheriff Nigel Ross continued the case to a further intermediate diet in April, with a trial due to take place later this year.