Man denies 34 sex attack charges over 20-year period

A man who had hopes of joining the police force plied boys with drink and used violence to get his way as he sexually abused them, a court has heard.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Jan 2016, 18:42 BST
Updated 27th Jan 2016, 06:29 BST
Stanley Simpson at Durham Crown Court.Stanley Simpson at Durham Crown Court.
Stanley Simpson at Durham Crown Court.

A jury was told Stanley Simpson let a number of boys watch horror films in his company, carrying out attacks as they sat on his knee when they got scared.

The 50-year-old, of Penistone Road, Pennywell, is accused of abusing five boys, as well as raping and indecently assaulting a young woman and two counts of indecently assaulting a girl, over a period of 20 years.

Simpson denies the 34 allegations against him.

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A jury at Durham Crown Court was told alcohol was given to youngsters on occasions, and others were allowed to smoke.

A number have told police they were bought expensive presents.

The jury heard some of the alleged victims believed he was a solicitor or said he claimed to be with the police, with violence, threats of violence and claims he would kill or hurt their families issued to the boys to stop them from reporting their allegations.

The court also heard that the woman he is said to have raped and indecently assaulted believes her drink was spiked and woke up next to him in bed to find signs they’d had sex.

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Simpson, who the court was told was once on a YTS police course and hoped to become a police officer, said he and the girl had “sexual contact” after he asked her to go upstairs.

The other alleged female victim said he would also ply her with lager.

During his police interviews, he told officers he “always tried to help people” and was “gutted” when he heard about the claims made by one of the boys.

Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution say that in this case there was a clear pattern to the defendant’s behaviour and similarities in allegations, all supporting each other.

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“The defendant says none of this has happened, but I want to make this clear, it is the prosecution which brings this case and we have to make you sure as to what happened and, if you are less than sure, then he is not guilty.

“But they don’t all have to be the same, consider each count separately.”

Simpson, whose trial is expected to last up to two weeks, denies 14 indecent assaults, six rapes, seven serious sexual assaults on boys and seven counts of indecency with a child.­­