BILLINGHAM MAN GUILTY OF MULTIPLE SEX CRIMES AGAINST YOUNG GIRLS
A DEVOUT churchgoer was yesterday found guilty of eight charges of rape and 13 of indecent assault on six young girls.David Courtney, of Mill Lane, Billingham, denied the charges during his trial at Teesside Crown Court.
The disabled 61-year-old, and who told the hearing he had "come to the Lord" in 1992, was remanded in custody by Judge Tony Briggs pending pre-sentence reports.
During the two-week trial, the court heard how Courtney, who regularly held prayer meetings at his Billingham home, had persistently raped and indecently assaulted his victims - some aged only eight at the time.
Graham Hyland QC, prosecuting, said that while molesting some of the girls, Courtney had justified his actions by quoting passages from the bible.
It was also revealed during the hearing that Courtney had faced another rape trial in 1994 and had been acquitted.
In his defence, Courtney claimed he had been impotent since suffering a severe back injury.
Dismissing the girls allegations as "rubbish", Courtney said that his Christian beliefs had meant that he had forgiven them for their "lies".
The defendant also told police when he was arrested that he believed the accusations had arisen through the complainants colluding in a bid to get compensation.
After the jury returned guilty verdicts on all 21 counts, defence barrister Tim Roberts asked for pre-sentence reports on Courtney, who underwent a quadruple by-pass last year and has since been in hospital for two further operations.
Agreeing to the adjournment for the reports and remanding Courtney in custody, Judge Briggs praised the jury for their "commendable attention" throughout the hearing.
