Baughurst man denies child sex charges
Defendant was arrested in police operation against alleged child dex ring
A BAUGHURST man arrested as part of a nationwide police operation against an alleged child sex ring has denied all charges against him.
The 67-year-old is charged with three counts of indecently assaulting a young girl.
He is one of seven men and one woman arrested following what detectives said was a complex investigation into child abuse in Basingstoke, Reading, Blackpool and London.
Six victims - one male and five females - were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse for more than a decade at addresses in Basingstoke, Bishops Green, Reading, Blackpool, Blackburn, Lytham St Annes in Lancashire and parts of London.
A seventh victim, a woman now aged 40, was allegedly subjected to historic sexual abuse dating back further.
Four of the eight, including the Buaghurst man, who between them face 62 charges relating to a variety of child sex offences, are next due to appear at Winchester magistrates, sitting at Winchester Crown Court, on January 5 next year.
Three others will appear there on November 25 this year.