Appearing before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle yesterday, he was accused of committing the offence by removing the clothing of his stepdaughter, Shaunella Case, from a clothes line on April 18.

The defendant pleaded not guilty and Defence Counsel Ronald Burch-Smith said the charge is a consequence of Jardine not having a good relationship with his wife’s elder children.

The lawyer said, as a result, Jardine has since removed from his matrimonial home.

The virtual complainant, who was in Court, said the problem has been ongoing for a long time and, that day, when she went to pay her mother a visit, her stepfather demanded that she leave the premises.

Case said, after she did not comply with his demand, Jardine took her clothes from where they were hanging and dumped them in a garbage bin.

He was put on $10,000 bail until June 2. (Nathalene DeFreitas)