A MAN has appeared in magistrates’ court charged with a number of sex offences against children dating back to the early 70s, including rape and indecent assault.

Stephen Bowden, 61, from Parbold Avenue in Blackbrook faces 27 charges in total against three children, the youngest of which was nine when the alleged offences took place.

He is charged with two rapes which were alleged to have been carried out between September 1973 and September 1975 when he was in his late teens and early 20s. The allegations of indecent assault were said to have been carried out between 1968 to 1976.

Bowden was granted conditional bail preventing him from contacting the alleged victims. A trial date has been earmarked at Liverpool Crown Court for later this month.