A 72-year-old man has been charged with a string of historic sex attacks on a child.
Derek Maslen, of Pewsham Road, Penhill, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (8 November) to answer the allegations – which date back to when he was in his 30s.
The defendant is charged with two counts of rape of a female aged under 16, two counts of indecent assault on a female aged under 16, and gross indecency with a girl aged under 14.
Due to the nature of the alleged crimes, Maslen was not required to enter pleas.
Magistrates sent the case to Swindon Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing. He was released on unconditional bail until that hearing on 9 December.
Lisa Nicol appeared for the defence.
The alleged victim in this case has the lifelong right to anonymity. It is an imprisonable criminal offence to share any piece of information that could lead to the identification of the alleged victim.
