Aravindan Balakrishnan faces false imprisonment and rape charges

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30512876

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A man has appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with 25 offences including false imprisonment and four counts of rape.

Aravindan Balakrishnan is also accused of cruelty to a person under 16 years old and 19 counts of indecent assault.

Mr Balakrishnan, 74, was arrested in Lambeth, south London, in November 2013 and now lives in Edmonton, north London.

He was bailed to next appear at Southwark Crown Court on 31 December.

'Manifestly serious allegations'

He is alleged to have "unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned a woman and detained her against her will" between January 1999 and October 2013.

The child cruelty charge alleges Mr Balakrishnan "wilfully ill-treated, assaulted, and neglected" a child in a manner "likely to cause unnecessary suffering".

District Judge Howard Riddle said the case against Mr Balakrishnan, of Latymer Road, involved "manifestly serious allegations".

Mr Balakrishnan's lawyer Adam Wiseman indicated that would plead not guilty to the alleged offences.

Mr Wiseman said he would be applying to adjourn the next hearing to the week starting 5 January.

Mr Balakrishnan was released on bail with conditions that he must live and sleep at his home address, not apply for international travel documents, not contact five women, who cannot be named, and not enter Lambeth unless accompanied by his solicitor.