A 62-year-old man has appeared in court accused of historical sex offences dating back nearly half a century, including charges of raping a child in Letchworth.
Philip Parker – of Fullers End in Elsenham, near Bishop’s Stortford – pleaded not guilty to nine counts of rape, seven alleged to involve child victims, when he appeared before a judge at St Albans Crown Court on Friday morning.
The accusations date back to when the 62-year-old was himself a teenager.
He denies raping a girl under 16 between 1968 and 1971, two counts of raping a woman between 1989 and 1990, and six counts of raping a girl under 13 in Letchworth between 2002 and 2004.
Mr Parker was given conditional bail by Judge John Plumstead, who has adjourned the case ahead of a jury trial.
The conditions of his bail forbid him to contact a named individual, or to contact any child under 16 without the consent of children’s services and a parent or guardian aware of the allegations.
He is also forbidden to participate in any work involving anyone under the age of 16, and must notify police if his address changes.
A provisional trial date has been set for February 5 at St Albans Crown Court.
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