Robert Morrison is said to have attacked the youngster, who can’t be named for legal reasons, this summer.

Prosecutors claim Morrison, of the town’s Glennifer Drive, struck in Port Glasgow in June.

Court papers allege he raped her in a house in the town’s Mid Avenue on June 16. Morrison’s alleged victim turned 16 the month before, May this year.

The 20-year-old was arrested by officers probing the alleged sexual assault and he was held in police custody pending a court appearance. Morrison was held at Govan’s Helen Street police station and was listed to appear from custody at Paisley Sheriff Court last Wednesday, August 26. But he did not appear at the court building in the town’s St James Street, with his case being transferred through to Greenock Sheriff Court.

The libeled rape is said to have taken place in Port Glasgow, an area which is covered by Greenock Sheriff Court.

Morrison appeared in private at the Inverclyde court house before Sheriff Derek Hamilton last week charged under Section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. During the behind-closed-doors hearing Morrison made no plea or declaration to a charge.

Sheriff Hamilton continued the case against Morrison for prosecutors to investigate further and released him on bail.

No future court dates have been set and Morrison is expected to go on trial before a jury in due course.