Stuart Hall rape trial date set as he stands accused of raping a woman and indecently assaulting young girls

Stuart Hall is to face a month-long trial after being accused of raping a woman and indecently assaulting 13 young girls.
The veteran broadcaster, 83, looked sombre as he arrived in court for the third time to face 18 separate charges of sexual abuse spanning almost two decades.
Hall faces one charge of raping a young woman and 14 counts of indecent assault against children as young as nine.
He is alleged to have raped a 22-year-old woman in 1976 and 14 other alleged sexual assaults relate to 10 girls aged between nine and 16, between 1967 and 1986.
Hall spoke only to confirm his name in an eight-minute preliminary hearing held in the same courtroom as the high-profile trials of Harold Shipman and child killers Robert Thompson and Jon Venables.
The Radio 5 live commentator looked unsteady on his feet as he was told in Preston Crown Court that he will face a month-long trial for the allegations against the 14 separate victims.
As Judge Anthony Russell QC warned him of the possibility of arrest if he breached his bail conditions Hall peered through the toughened glass and shook his head before turning his gaze downwards.
Judge Russell said: ‘If you breach these bail conditions you are aware that you may well find yourself arrested as it would be a criminal offence.’
The former It’s a Knockout presenter had already been charged in December with indecently assaulting three girls.
These charges included an alleged assault of an eight-year-old, an 11-year-old and a woman who was then aged 16. The allegations cover the period between 1974 and 1984.

Last month, the sports pundit told how he had been driven to the brink of suicide by the ‘spurious’ claims of rape and indecent assault.
The broadcaster spoke out as he arrived at an earlier magistrate’s court hearing to face the charges of sexual abuse.
For the first time since allegations against him surfaced in December last year, the commentator defended himself, saying he had been through a ‘living nightmare’.

First visit: The 83-year-old veteran broadcaster arrived at his first crown court appearance with Maurice Watkins, the chairman of the Super League, but only spoke to confirm his name

Hall also questioned why it had taken almost four decades for the allegations to be made against him and defiantly vowed to clear his name.
An emotional Hall called the allegations ‘pernicious, callous and cruel’ and also revealed that he was nursing a heart complaint brought on by the stress of the ordeal.
The arrest of the commentator, who lives with his wife of 44 years, Hazel, in Wilmslow, Cheshire, came as the BBC continues to deal with the fallout from the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.
Police said it did not form part of Operation Yewtree, the investigation into alleged sex offences by Savile and others.
Gary Glitter, 68, comedian Freddie Starr, 69, DJ Dave Lee Travis, 67, and former BBC producer Wilfred De’Ath, 73, have been arrested and bailed as part of that probe.
Other celebrity arrests include comedian Jim Davidson, 59, and PR guru Max Clifford, 69.
All deny any wrongdoing.

Accused: The former It's a Knockout-presenter is alleged to have raped a 22-year-old woman in 1976 and 14 other alleged sexual assaults relating to 10 girls aged between nine and 16

Hall as previously said that he believes the pursuit of celebrities by the police has led to a string of allegations being made against him.
Speaking outside Hall’s home earlier this year, his solicitor Louise Straw said: ‘The clear pursuit of celebrities - an 83-year-old in this instance - raises concerns about fairness and equal treatment.’
Hall, known for his distinctively highbrow approach to football commentary on Radio 5 Live, was yesterday bailed to appear before Preston Crown Court on April 16.
A provisional trial date was set for October 2 and it is estimated to last up to four weeks.
In December, his employers at BBC Radio 5 Live announced he would not be working for them while the investigation was continuing.
Hall and his wife, who have two grown-up children, Daniel, 50, and Francesca, 52, are popular among the local community.
He won legions of fans in the 1970s and 1980s for his inimitable style and habit of breaking down in fits of laughter during It’s a Knockout.
He became an OBE in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity.

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