ROY GRIFFITHS, an 82-year-old man of South Street, Sherborne, who was charged as part of an investigation into historic child abuse in Lincoln diocese (News, 5 May 2017), denied two further offences when he appeared in court last Friday.

Mr Griffiths appeared at Lincoln Crown Court by video link from Bournemouth Crown Court. He pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent assault on a male aged under 16 between January 1966 and December 1969.

At a previous hearing last July, Mr Griffiths denied child-abuse allegations against five other boys in Lincoln diocese (News, 14 July 2017). On that occasion, Mr Griffiths entered pleas of not guilty to 11 sexual offences.

He denied nine charges of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16, and two charges of indecency with a child. Those offences are alleged to have happened between January 1963 and July 1970.

The investigation, Operation Redstone, is a probe into allegations of abuse dating back to 1958, after a review of past safeguarding cases by the diocese of Lincoln. Lincolnshire Police confirmed in September 2016 that they were looking into abuse claims concerning the Cathedral School in Lincoln.

Judge John Pini QC adjourned the case for a trial beginning at Lincoln Crown Court on 3 April. It is expected to last at least two weeks.

Mr Griffiths was granted conditional bail until his trial.