An application to dismiss two child sex abuse charges against scout leader Roland Frankel will be made by his defence team, it has emerged.

Frankel, 61, of Theydon Park Road in Theydon Bois, is charged with attempting to engage in sexual activity and attempting to pay for sex with the same girl aged between 13 and 15.

He is charged with possessing 18,385 indecent images and 440 videos.

Of these, 81 still images and three videos are in the most serious “category A”.

However according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Frankel’s defence layers are set to apply for two of the charges - attempting to engage in sexual activity and attempting to pay for sex with the girl - to be dismissed.

The CPS expect the defence to make the application at Frankel’s next appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court on July 10.

The former Theydon Bois Villager of the Year, scout leader and Liberal Democrat councillor between 2006 and 2010 was first charged after attending a police station in November 2013.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between July 1 and November 6 2013.

A Scout Association spokesman said the organisation suspended Frankel "as soon as the allegations were reported" in 2013.