[A] MAN accused of sexually assaulting two children has appeared at Carlisle Crown Court.
Robert William Berry, 64, faces a total of four allegations.
Two allege that he sexually assaulted a girl aged under 16, while an additional count alleges that he sexually assaulted a different girl aged under 13.
These are said to relate to the Appleby area, with the charges covering a nine-month period during 2016.
Berry also faces a fourth charge which alleges that he was in possession of 11 indecent class C images of a child between March, 2000, and September last year.
He has yet to enter pleas to any of the charges. When he appeared in court for a brief hearing today (THURS), Berry’s lawyer, Denise Fitzpatrick, said: “My proposal is to ask that an indication of not guilty pleas is given, and he is arraigned at a later date.”
A trial date was fixed for April 9. It is estimated the hearing before a jury at the crown court will last five days.
In the meantime, Berry, of Whitehouse Gardens, Carleton Drive, Penrith, was granted bail by the judge, the Honourable Mr Justice Turner.
