Burnley man denies seven child rape claims (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley man denies seven child rape claims

11:00pm Wednesday 25th July 2012 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A MAN denied seven counts of rape and six counts of indecent assault on children.

Stuart Wilson, 65, of Cotton Street, Burnley, is charged with the offences, which date back around 40 years.

He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges at the start of a trial at Burnley Crown Court. The charges relate to more than one victim.

Wilson, who used to run his own bakery business, and has also lived in Nelson and Crawshawbooth, is alleged to have raped the girls and made them perform sex acts on him.

The complaints against Wilson first surfaced towards the end of 2010, when one of the alleged victims, by then an adult, made her mother aware of what had taken place.

They then reported the incidents to the police, which is when the case against Wilson started to form.

The court heard that Wilson, who was described as a “drinker” regularly consumed a bottle of sherry every day.

The court heard that he had told one of his victims “don’t tell anyone and I will give you a tenner”.

Opening the case Lisa Roberts, prosecuting, said: “It looks like the man has led a blame-free and blemish-free life for his 65 years on this earth.

“But during that time he has held a secret known only to these women and himself.”

The court heard that Wilson denies all charges and says the complainants are ‘financially motivated’.

(proceeding)