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Wirral charity worker in court on sex charges


CLICK HEAR photo off Matthew Byrne,

A CHILDREN’S charity worker has appeared in court facing sexual assault and child porn charges.

Matthew Byrne, 37, of Tollemache Street in Wirral appeared at Birkenhead Magistrates Court after his home was raided last week.

Byrne, who runs the Young Person’s Advisory Service which works with children as young as 10, made no application for bail and was remanded in custody.

The charges include false imprisonment, sexual assault and possession of an indecent picture of a child. He also faced assault charges against two women.

The wannabe politician also stood as a Lib Dem candidate in the May 2006 council elections in Wirral. It is understood his membership of the party has since lapsed.

Police swooped on his house at around 1.30pm last Friday.

Dozens of police and forensic officers spent the weekend inside the modern terraced house. A police van was stationed outside and officers interviewed neighbours.

Police officers pushed leaflets through nearby letterboxes yesterday saying the “detailed search” of the house may last for a number of days.

On Monday Byrne, dressed in a checked shirt and tan trousers, spoke only to confirm his name and address during a brief appearance in the magistrates court.

Chairman of the bench John Prior remanded him in custody and Byrne is due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on July 16 for a preliminary hearing.

THE WIRRAL NEWS

Children's charity worker from New Brighton in court on child porn and sex assault charges




A children's charity worker from New Brighton appeared in court today facing a string of sex assault, child porn and violence allegations.

Matthew Byrne, who ran the Young Person's Advisory Service in Liverpool, was initially charged with five offences but now faces a further nine offences.

The 37-year-old, of Tollemache Street, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link equipment from Walton jail.

His original charges involve allegedly falsely imprisoning a prostitute, assaulting her by penetration, wounding her and another woman and possessing child porn.

The new allegations involve raping and wounding a third woman, falsely imprisoning and causing grievous bodily harm to two other women and twice sexually assaulting one of them by penetration.

It is also claimed he inflicted grievous bodily harm on a sixth woman and outraged public decency on a train involving taking photographs of school children.

All the offences allegedly occurred between July last year and June 5 this year.

Byrne, a former Liberal Democrat candidate in Wirral Council elections in 2006, was further remanded in custody until October 21 when he is expected to enter his pleas.

It is understood his membership of the Lib Dems has since lapsed.



THE GLOBE