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Ex-Dragons' Den star Doug Richard denies paying child for sex Ex-Dragons' Den star Doug Richard denies paying child for sex
(35 minutes later)
A former Dragons’ Den star who acted as an adviser to David Cameron has denied paying a 13-year-old girl for sex after meeting her on a website . A former Dragons’ Den star who acted as an adviser to David Cameron has denied paying a child for sex after meeting her on a website.
Doug Richard, 57, is accused of molesting the girl and engaging in other sexual activity after she travelled to London to meet him.Doug Richard, 57, is accused of molesting the girl and engaging in other sexual activity after she travelled to London to meet him.
He appeared before the Old Bailey accused of three counts of sexual activity with a child, one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and a charge of paying a child for sexual services.He appeared before the Old Bailey accused of three counts of sexual activity with a child, one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and a charge of paying a child for sexual services.
All the charges relate to one girl, who was aged 13 at the time of the alleged offences on 2 January. All the charges relate to one girl, who was 13 at the time of the alleged offences, on 2 January.
The US-born businessman, who is on unconditional bail, entered not guilty pleas during a short hearing before the Common Serjeant of London, Judge Richard Marks QC. The US-born businessman, who is on unconditional bail, entered not guilty pleas during a short hearing before the common serjeant of London, Judge Richard Marks QC.
Dressed smartly in a dark suit, he spoke clearly in a thick American accent. Richard, of Islington, north London, is due back at the same court for a five-day trial starting on 25 January. A further hearing before the trial judge, Mark Lucraft QC, was scheduled for 8 January. Dressed in a dark suit, the defendant spoke clearly in a thick American accent. Richard, of Islington in north London, is due back at the court for a five-day trial on 25 January. A further hearing before the trial judge, Mark Lucraft QC, was scheduled for 8 January.
The millionaire, who appeared on BBC’s Dragons’ Den in the first two series, reportedly travelled with the Prime Minister on an official government trip to Africa and advised on policy. The millionaire, who appeared on the BBC programme in the first two series, reportedly travelled with the prime minister on an official trip to Africa and advised on policy.
His association with Cameron goes back to at least 2008, when the then opposition leader invited the technology entrepreneur to write a report about small business in Britain. His association with David Cameron dates to at least 2008, when the then opposition leader invited the technology entrepreneur to write a report about small business in Britain.
Richard founded a business loans initiative called School For Startups, alongside the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Richard founded a business loans initiative called school for startups, with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.