Baughurst man on child sex charges

Arrest is one of eight following nationwide investigation

A BAUGHURST man has been arrested as part of a nationwide police operation against an alleged child sex ring.

The 67-year-old has been 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.

The eight, who between them face 61 charges relating to a variety of child sex offences, are due to appear together at Andover Magistrates' Court on (Friday).