EDL protest outside Calderdale child sex abuse hearing

From ITV, and the Huddersfield Daily Examiner  

A total of 25 men appeared in court today -Thursday – charged with historic sex offences against two girls.

Police surrounded Calderdale Magistrates Court in Halifax from 9am as a planned protest by the English Defence League went ahead. Many of the defendants, who were all on bail, covered their faces and mouths as they arrived at court to jeers from protesters, some of whom also had covered faces, and chants of ‘EDL’ and ‘Yorkshire’. At one point an EDL flag was raised.

The defendants, including a man from Huddersfield, spoke only to confirm their ages and likely plea indication.

No further details of the offences were made due to the majority of charges being indictable-only offences, which can only be dealt with at Crown Court.

The proceedings were stopped at one point during the morning session due to a disturbance in the public gallery and police escorted a number of people outside.

The charges relate to two victims, one girl who was aged under 16 at the time, and include rape, people trafficking for sexual exploitation, sexual activity with a child under 16, voyeurism and sexual assault. A drugs charge was also made.

After hearing the charges magistrates sent all cases to Leeds Crown Court to be heard on or before February 26. All defendants were granted bail on the same conditions as before: A court order was made preventing the press from publishing the full addresses of any of the defendants.