Ex-rock drummer denies sex charges

A former drummer with rock band Judas Priest has appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy.

David Holland denies one charge of attempted rape and four of indecently assaulting the teenager.

All of the alleged offences are said to have taken place between July and December last year.

Mr Holland, 55, of The Green, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, pleaded not guilty to all the charges at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

He appeared in the dock with co-defendant Spiros Laoutaris, 22, of Bourne Crescent, Kings Heath, Northampton.

Unconditional bail

Mr Laoutaris faces four charges of indecently assaulting the same teenager over the same period.

Judge Charles Wide QC released both men on unconditional bail to appear again at Northampton Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Mr Holland joined Birmingham-based Judas Priest in 1979 and played with them for 10 years in the band's heyday.

They reached Number 12 in the British charts in 1980 with two records, Living After Midnight and Breaking The Law.

They had several other Top 20 hits but never reached the Top 10 in the UK.