AN 85-year-old man will stand trial on charges of rape and indecent assault on a girl aged under 16.
Charles John Spear, of Lealands, Bovey Tracey, appeared before South and West Devon Magistrates’ Court where he faced six charges.
He was charged with indecently assaulting the girl in the early 1970s and a further charge that he indecently assaulted the girl at least 10 times after that.
He faces a further charge of indecently assaulting the girl and another charge of committing an act of gross indecency with the girl on at least five occasions.
He is then charged with raping the girl between 1974 and 1980. He is further charged that after the previous alleged incident he raped the girl on at least 10 occasions between 1974 and 1983.
He was remanded on unconditional bail to appear before Exeter Crown Court on June 6.