A PENSIONER has denied a string of historic sexual offences including child rapes dating back to the early 1970s and early 1980s.

Roger Wickett denied all 18 counts on the indictment following alleged historic sexual offences in Broadway when he appeared before judge Jim Tindal at Worcester Crown Court on yesterday.

The 71-year-old of The Crescent, Greenhithe, Kent pleaded not guilty to 10 rapes of a female under 16, three indecent assaults against a girl under 14 and five counts of inciting a child under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency with a child.

The offences are said by the prosecution to have taken place between March 29, 1971 and March 28, 1982, some of the offences alleged to have taken place in Broadway.

A co-defendant, Kevin Wilkes, of Mill Avenue, Broadway, Worcestershire did not appear at the hearing on grounds of ill-health.

He faces a 16 count indictment including six rapes of a female under 16, nine indecent assaults on a girl under the age of 16 and one count of inciting a girl under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency.

The alleged offences are said by the prosecution to have been committed between March 29, 1979 and August 18, 1984 in Broadway.

A trial date has been set for April 6 next year. Wickett was granted unconditional bail in the meantime.