Pensioner accused of child sex attacks

A pensioner accused of a catalogue of child sex crimes dating back to 1949 appeared in court today - just hours after being flown in from Australia.

Welshman Reginald Davis is accused of 16 historic offences, including several counts of raping a child under 12, over a 24-year period.

He was remanded in custody after being extradited from his adopted home of Wanneroo, on Australia's west coast.

Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the bald-headed 77-year-old, wearing a lumberjack shirt, showed no emotion in the dock.

He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth before District Judge Elizabeth Roscoe sent the case to crown court.

Speaking outside court, lawyers said it was "one of the most historic sex offence cases of its kind".

After landing in London this morning, he was charged by Scotland Yard with four child rapes, three attempted rapes, eight indecent assaults and one count of inciting a child to commit gross indecency.

The majority of the charges refer to offences which took place in the 1950s but attacks were alleged to have carried on until 1973.

Ms Roscoe denied the elderly defendant bail before telling him: "I am sending this matter to Southwark Crown Court.

"You will be in custody until the first of these hearings on December 9."

Davis gave no indication of plea.

PA