Priest denies child abuse charges (From The Argus)
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Priest denies child abuse charges
10:10am Saturday 20th October 2012 in News
A retired priest has denied abusing children in the 1960s and 1970s.
Gordon Rideout, 73, of Wannock, Eastbourne, is said to have committed the 38 offences – two attempted rapes and 36 indecent assaults – against 18 children between 1962 and 1973 in Crawley, Essex and Hampshire.
He appeared at Lewes Crown Court for a short hearing yesterday (October 19). He spoke only to plead not guilty to all the charges against him.
He was released on bail and told to live and sleep at his home address, not to contact any of the alleged victims or witnesses and not to have any unsupervised contact with under-16s.
Rideout was arrested at his home in March following a nine-month investigation by Sussex Police.
A judge is to decide whether the case should be held at the Old Bailey or in Sussex.
A trial lasting up to eight weeks is due to take place on April 8.
