Child-sex dad’s marriage ended after another affair

A CHEATING family man would drop his wife and young children off at church for Sunday service then rush off to have sex with his 12-year old girlfriend, a court has been told.

Company boss Clive Royales (48) left the child to return to church to collect his family less than two hours later, a Manchester Crown Court jury heard.

Royales led the girl on by promising they would run off together and enjoy an exotic lifestyle. The youngster didn’t know Royales was also involved in a long-running affair with a woman - which resulted in the break-up of his marriage.

Royales admitted the affair to his then wife Gillian and she told him to leave, the court heard. A short-lived attempt to patch things up was “pointless” because trust had gone. It was years later that she found out about the relationship with the schoolgirl.

The victim, now a married woman, made a formal complaint to police in July 2014 and “felt compelled” to confess the relationship to the man’s ex-wife in person.

Royales, of Badgers Rake, Springhead, pleads not guilty to three counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and two of sexual assault on the same girl.

The court heard Royales had confessed to a close family member that he had a “deep, dark secret” - adding that he loved it and was never going to stop it. The jury was told the youngster ended the affair.

Kathryn Johnson, prosecuting, told the jury that Royales had groomed the 12-year old to satisfy his own lust. He had unprotected sex with her up to three times a week. On other occasions they would use his car at remote countryside spots.

In a video recording the victim said: “I feel so stupid now that I ever believed him.”

The case continues.