Eight Charged Over Historic Child Abuse

Seven men and a woman have been charged in connection with alleged child abuse in and around the New Milton area in the 1970s and 1980s.

Four others have been bailed and one has been released with no further action.

Michael Edward Brooks, 65, of Cross Street, Lymington was tonight charged with 17 offences.

They inlude indecent assault on a woman over the age of 16, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two charges of cruelty to a child, five charges of raping a female under the age of 16, three charges of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, one charge of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16.

Brooks was also charged with two other sexual offences.

Peter Saville, 53, of Winston Way, Ringwood, yesterday appeared at New Forest Magistrates’ Court charged with sexually assaulting a girl under 16. He was released on bail on condition he lives at an address near Fordingbridge.

Kenneth Milton, 71, of Ventnor Court, Southampton, is charged with two counts of indecently assaulting a girl under 13.

Ian Whitlock, 65, of Drake Clowse, New Milton, has also been charged with indecently assaulting a girl under 13.

Nico Sharque, 43, of Rudd Close, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, has been charged with one offence fo indecent assaulting a boy under 13.

Terence Shave, 64, of Bramshaw Way, New Milton, has been charged with one offence of indecent assault on a girl under 13 and one offence of sexual assault against a woman.

Patricia Gaunt, 56, of Hare Lane, New Milton, and Richard Wells, 53, of Ashley Common Road, New Milton, have both been accused of the attempted rape of a girl under 16.

The seven charged people are among 13 arrested in raids in Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Sussex on Thursday and Friday.