ISLE of Wight county councillor Daryll Pitcher appeared before Island magistrates this morning (Tuesday) to face a string of serious sexual assualt charges.

The 46-year-old, of Norman Way, Wootton Bridge, is accused of two charges of rape and one other of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 years, in Wootton, between March 19, 1989 and March 20, 1992, when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court in Newport.

Read more: Isle of Wight councillor Daryll Pitcher in court today

He was bailed to reappear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on August 22.