A 101-year-old man went on trial today accused of carrying out a catalogue of historical child sex offences in a workshop and the cab of his delivery lorry.<\/p>\n
Ralph Clarke – thought to be the oldest defendant to stand trial in a British court – is alleged to have committed the offences against two girls and a boy, including one as young as seven, between 1974 and 1983.<\/p>\n
The former lorry driver leaned on a walking stick for support while sitting on the back row of the barristers’ benches as the Crown’s case against him was opened at Birmingham Crown Court.<\/p>\n
Clarke, of Erdington, Birmingham, denies 17 charges of indecent assault, 12 offences of indecency with a child and two attempted serious sexual offences.<\/p>\n
At the start of the pensioner’s two-week trial, prosecutor Miranda Moore QC told jurors two of Clarke’s alleged victims walked into a police station in August last year to make a complaint against him.<\/p>\n
Miss Moore told the jury: ‘What they were to tell the police was a history of a catalogue of serious sexual abuse.’<\/p>\n
Alleging that some of the abuse took place in a garage at Clarke’s then home in Erdington, Miss Moore told the jury panel of six men and six women: ‘All three victims talk about being in a garden shed or workshop.<\/p>\n
‘Probably today you would call it a “man shed” or a “man cave”.’<\/p>\n
People from all over the area would take things to Clarke – who was regarded locally as something of a handyman – for him to repair, Miss Moore added.<\/p>\n
When Clarke was questioned by police last December, the court heard, he made ‘limited admissions’ to officers.<\/p>\n
Miss Moore said: ‘The defendant was interviewed by the police in this case. He agreed some of the things you are going to hear about did in fact happen.<\/p>\n
‘His first words were “Who has complained?”‘<\/p>\n
Concluding her opening speech, Miss Moore stressed age is no barrier to a defendant being tried ‘as long as the trial is fair and the evidence is clear’.<\/p>\n
Before the case was opened by Miss Moore, Judge Richard Bond informed the jury there would be occasions when Clarke left the hearing without permission for personal reasons.<\/p>\n
Explaining that Clarke would also be assisted by an intermediary helping him to follow the proceedings, the judge told the panel: ‘There will be occasions during the trial when the defendant will speak, possibly quite loudly, to the intermediary, who is likely to speak quite loudly back to him.<\/p>\n
‘The reason for this is that Mr Clarke, not surprisingly at the age of 101, is hard of hearing.<\/p>\n
‘I invite, in fact I direct you, to ignore any such communications between Mr Clarke and the intermediary – or with his barrister.<\/p>\n
‘The reason for that is that those communications are normally private but you are bound to hear them in this case for obvious reasons.’<\/p>\n
Judge Bond added that Clarke’s old age and health mean the court will have reduced sitting hours during the two-week trial, with evidence heard between 9.30am and 1.30pm.<\/p>\n
Describing the sitting hours as ‘very, very unusual’, the judge added: ‘I have made that decision because the interests of justice decree that this defendant, like any defendant who is tried in a Crown Court, must be able to follow the evidence and must be in position to call evidence himself if that time arises.<\/p>\n
‘I am sure that you will all understand why we have to accommodate Mr Clarke in this particular way.<\/p>\n
‘At the forefront of my mind I have his welfare. He has got be able to follow this trial. So let’s all be patient. It’s only fair.’<\/p>\n
Clarke took off his white flat cap after entering court, but did not take off his coat during the proceedings. The trial continues tomorrow.<\/p>\n