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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/29/blackpool-man-appears-in-court-charged-with-historical-sex-offences
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| Blackpool man appears in court charged with historical sex offences | Blackpool man appears in court charged with historical sex offences |
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| A man has appeared in court charged with historical sex offences by police investigating the disappearance of 14-year-old Charlene Downes more than a decade ago. | A man has appeared in court charged with historical sex offences by police investigating the disappearance of 14-year-old Charlene Downes more than a decade ago. |
| The kebab shop owner Kashif Gul, 39, was one of two men arrested on Monday by the team of detectives investigating the disappearance of the schoolgirl, as part of Operation Awaken. Lancashire police said there was no suggestion that the arrests of the two Blackpool men were directly connected to the teenager’s disappearance. | The kebab shop owner Kashif Gul, 39, was one of two men arrested on Monday by the team of detectives investigating the disappearance of the schoolgirl, as part of Operation Awaken. Lancashire police said there was no suggestion that the arrests of the two Blackpool men were directly connected to the teenager’s disappearance. |
| The schoolgirl disappeared on the evening of 1 November 2003 and has not been seen since. Despite a lengthy and complex investigation, numerous media appeals and a £100,000 reward on offer for information leading to the conviction of her killer or the recovery of her body, nobody has ever been b | |
| investigation is one of Lancashire police’s largest and longest running. As well as examining the teenager’s disappearance, the investigation is looking at the wider issue of alleged child sexual exploitation in the resort. | |
| Gul appeared in court charged with historical child sex offences. He is accused of rape, attempted rape, gross indecency with a child and indecency with a child in relation to one female victim aged 14 and 15. | Gul appeared in court charged with historical child sex offences. He is accused of rape, attempted rape, gross indecency with a child and indecency with a child in relation to one female victim aged 14 and 15. |
| Gul appeared at Blackpool magistrates court on Tuesday before he was remanded in custody by Judge Pamela Baldwin. | Gul appeared at Blackpool magistrates court on Tuesday before he was remanded in custody by Judge Pamela Baldwin. |
| He is due to appear at Preston crown court on 27 July and his lawyer Leisa Splaine said her client would deny the accusations. | He is due to appear at Preston crown court on 27 July and his lawyer Leisa Splaine said her client would deny the accusations. |
| A 50-year-old man, who was also arrested on Monday and questioned on suspicion of indecent assault and taking indecent images of a child, has been bailed pending further inquiries. | A 50-year-old man, who was also arrested on Monday and questioned on suspicion of indecent assault and taking indecent images of a child, has been bailed pending further inquiries. |
| The offences were allegedly committed in the early 2000s and relate to two girls aged 14 or 15 at the time. | The offences were allegedly committed in the early 2000s and relate to two girls aged 14 or 15 at the time. |
| Lancashire police say they are still pursuing those responsible for Charlene’s suspected murder with a team of detectives dedicated to the unsolved murder and are also investigating alleged child sexual exploitation in the town. | Lancashire police say they are still pursuing those responsible for Charlene’s suspected murder with a team of detectives dedicated to the unsolved murder and are also investigating alleged child sexual exploitation in the town. |
| Det Supt Andy Webster, the senior investigating officer, said: “I firmly believe that there are people who know what happened to Charlene but have not come forward to speak to the police. | Det Supt Andy Webster, the senior investigating officer, said: “I firmly believe that there are people who know what happened to Charlene but have not come forward to speak to the police. |
| “You may have been present when she was murdered or may simply have information about how she was killed and what happened to her body. For whatever reasons, you may have chosen not to speak out previously, but as we seek to lift the lid on what happened your information is vital to take the case forward. | “You may have been present when she was murdered or may simply have information about how she was killed and what happened to her body. For whatever reasons, you may have chosen not to speak out previously, but as we seek to lift the lid on what happened your information is vital to take the case forward. |
| “If your reluctance is due to fear of reprisals, I would still urge you to contact us. We will ensure that every measure is taken to ensure your safety but the first step requires you to speak to us. Also, if you are afraid you could incriminate yourself, let me assure you that our objective is to find Charlene’s killer or killers.” | “If your reluctance is due to fear of reprisals, I would still urge you to contact us. We will ensure that every measure is taken to ensure your safety but the first step requires you to speak to us. Also, if you are afraid you could incriminate yourself, let me assure you that our objective is to find Charlene’s killer or killers.” |
| During the search, more than 4,800 people have been interviewed and police say they have investigated more than 10,500 lines of inquiry. | During the search, more than 4,800 people have been interviewed and police say they have investigated more than 10,500 lines of inquiry. |
| In 2007, the trial of two men accused over her murder was halted when the jury failed to reach a verdict. The subsequent retrial collapsed owing to concerns over a key prosecution witness. Both men were cleared of the charges. | In 2007, the trial of two men accused over her murder was halted when the jury failed to reach a verdict. The subsequent retrial collapsed owing to concerns over a key prosecution witness. Both men were cleared of the charges. |
| The £100,000 reward for information – put up by Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner – remains in place. | The £100,000 reward for information – put up by Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner – remains in place. |