Published at 16:00, Friday, 15 February 2013

A PENSIONER will stand trial charged with a string of historical sex offences dating back 30 years.

Robert Savage, 70, of Lesh Lane, Barrow, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his trial is due to begin in Barrow Crown Court on May 13.

A trial had previously been scheduled to take place in Preston but was delayed due to Savage’s ill health.

Savage faces three charges of buggery by a person over 16 with a boy under 16.

He also faces six charges of indecent assault on a boy under 16.

All of the offences are alleged to have taken place between 1973 and 1977 and to have been committed against the same victim.

His case was previously committed for trial at Preston Crown Court on Friday, November 18.

However, this trial did not go ahead due to his ill health.

A judge in Preston Crown Court ordered the trial take place in Barrow in May so it was easier for Savage to attend and to give him time to recover from his ill health.

His trial is expected to last until May 19.

Savage is on bail with conditions, including that he does not have any unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 and that he must present himself to police officers at his home any time between 8am and 10pm.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk