A Surrey man accused of drugging 10 people in order to sexually assault or rob them is on trial in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.

Most of the alleged victims were prostitutes. A publication ban shields their identities.

Steven Beszedes, 47, has pleaded not guilty to 24 criminal charges, including sexual assault, administering a drug to commit an indictable offence, and robbery.

The crimes are alleged to have occurred in Surrey and Langley, between April 2005 and June 2010.

Justice James Williams is presiding over the trial, which started Monday and is set for nine weeks.

tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com