A successful children's author who appeared before Wexford District Court three years ago for allegedly breaching a sex offenders order has been remanded in custody in the UK.

Patrick Dorian Cowland, also known as Patrick Joseph Cormack, 72, was wanted in the UK for alleged historic sexual assaults on two boys in Cheltenham, Gloucester.

Cowland appeared before Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday ten months after an international warrant was issued for his arrest. He was remanded to HMP Hewell in Redditch, Worcester.

Cowland, whose last known address was Ballagh, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, is a published author of children's books and other literary works and has also worked as an accountant.

The court was told at an earlier hearing that he had been working as a photographer when he met and befriended one of his two alleged victims in Oxford in the 1970s.

The eight charges against Cowland allege indecent assault and gross indecency offences against two boys - one between 1973 and 1975 in Cheltenham and the other between 1979 and 1982 in other locations in England and Wales.

At his hearing this week, Cowland told the judge, Recorder Neil Millard, that when he was arrested he had no relevant documentation with him and no money. He stated that his previous lawyer in Gloucestershire was unable to undertake legal aid work and therefore he was now legally unrepresented as he could not pay privately.

Recorder Millard told Cowland: "You need to be legally represented because of the charges you face. I understand that your lawyer, who you previously paid for from your own funds, is unable to take on legal aid work. I'll adjourn the case for seven days for you to find legal representation. I understand that the prosecutor today, Mr David Maunder, has offered to contact a local lawyer on your behalf."