Sex assault case delayed by illness

A PENSIONER facing a series of sex charges failed to attend a court hearing after being declared ‘unfit to stand trial.’

Frederick Conway currently lives in sheltered accommodation in Gainsborough and is accused of 34 sex offence charges.

The 71-year-old’s charges include indecent assault and rape.

Conway’s offences are alleged to have been committed over a period of five years between 1976 and 1981.

He was due to appear before Lincoln Crown Court on Friday 12th August to enter a plea and for case management.

However, doctors said that Conway was ‘unfit to attend and stand trial’ the court heard.

The defence voiced confusion over whether Conway was actually unable to stand trial or just to enter a plea.

He was previously due to face trial on Monday 6th June but the case was adjourned after he was admitted to hospital after suffering breathing difficulties.

Hon Judge Heath allowed for the hearing to be adjourned until Friday 16th September while the court awaits further medical and mental health reports. Judge Heath also voiced that the actual trial might not take place until mid-March 2012 at the earliest.

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