East Winch man facing rape charges

A man from East Winch has appeared in court charged with three counts of rape and other sex offences.

Richard Rodgers, 47, of Gayton Road in the village, is facing a total of seven allegations and appeared before the West Norfolk Magistrates’ Court in Lynn yesterday.

He has been charged with the rape of a girl and two counts of raping a woman aged over 16.

Rodgers is also facing charges of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 and two counts of causing or inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

And he faces a further charge of engaging in sexual activity with a girl under the age of 13.

The incidents are all alleged to have happened in West Norfolk between January 2006 and July 2014.

No plea was entered during the hearing on Thursday morning.

Magistrates sent the case to Norwich Crown Court where Rodgers will next appear on March 12. He was bailed until that date.