Re-trial for accused in child sex abuse case

A FORMER Oldham company boss alleged to have groomed an underage girl for sex, is to go on trial again.

A jury at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court last month failed to reach even a majority verdict in the case of 48-year old Clive Royales.

The Crown Prosecution Service was given time to consider its position and, at an adjourned hearing, prosecutor Mark Ford confirmed there will be a re-trial next year.

It has been alleged that Royales of Badgers Rake, Oldham Road, Springhead had an affair lasting two years with the girl, who says she was just 12 when it started.

The trial jury heard claims that he led her on by telling her he loved her and that he intended to leave his wife and two children for her when she reached 16.

He is alleged to have told her he would whisk her away to start an idyllic new life in the sun.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleges they had unprotected sex up to three times a week - sometimes at his home on Sunday mornings when his family were at church.

Royales is pleading not guilty to three counts of indecent assault against the youngster, maintains that he never had any kind of improper relationship with her, and that she has made the whole story up.

The new trial in May next year, will be the third time Royales has faced a jury.

An initial trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in January, was abandoned on the directions of the judge, for legal reasons.