Man charged with sexual attacks

The man appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court

A 64-year-old man has been charged with indecently assaulting a woman and a female child.

John Atkinson, of Ashley Park Millisle, faces 10 charges, including rape, false imprisonment and taking and possessing an indecent photo of a child.

The charges stretch back as far as 1998 - and allegedly took place in Belfast, Newtownards and Coleraine.

At a hearing at Belfast Magistrates Court, Mr Atkinson was remanded in custody.

He is due in court again at the end of the month.

A detective sergeant accepted that during police interviews the defendant had expressed some degree of remorse and made certain admissions to police.

A defence solicitor told the court the defendant was suffering from various illnesses, including bone marrow cancer.

The resident magistrate was told that Mr Atkinson was not related to the alleged victims - and that their families wanted his name to be reported by the media.

In such circumstances she said there would be no objections.