Child grooming trial collapses

A JURY in the trial of a former Oldham company boss alleged to have groomed an underage girl for sex, was discharged after failing to reach even a majority verdict.

The hearing, which had lasted more than a week at Minshull Street Crown Court, was the second this year.

A trial at the same court in January was abandoned on the directions of the trial judge Jeffrey Lewis for legal reasons.

The case will come back to court on September 9 when the Crown Prosecution Service will have to indicate if it intends to ask for a re-trial.

It has been alleged that 48-year old former Oldham company boss Clive Royales had an affair lasting around two years with the girl, who says she just 12 when it started.

The jury was told he had led her on by telling her he loved her and that he would leave his wife and two children for her when she reached the age of 16.

He is alleged to have told her he would whisk her away to an exotic new life in the sun.

Kathryn Johnson, prosecuting, said Royales had groomed the youngster, now a married woman, to satisfy his own lust.

She said it was the Crown's case that his sole aim had been to sexually exploit the child, and it was claimed they had unprotected sex up to three times a week including at his home when his wife and children were at church.

Royales, of Badgers Rake, Oldham Road, Springhead, pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault.

He consistently denied the allegations against him, insisting that he never had any kind of improper relationship with her and she had made it all up.

Paul MacDonald, defending, suggested his alleged victim's story was simply not believable, putting it to her: "It's complete nonsense, isn't it? It didn't happen, it's a fantasy, and it doesn't make sense." She replied: "It happened."

The jury was told in evidence that Royales' marriage came to an end not because of the girl, but after his wife discovered he was having an affair with another woman.