TWO of the charges against a man accused of six sex offences against young boys have been dismissed. Advocate Peter Ferbrache, defending, said that there were inconsistencies and lies in some of the boys’ accounts.

The 70-year-old still faces four counts: inciting a minor to commit an act of gross indecency with him, committing an act of gross indecency against a minor and two of indecent assault.

Separate counts of inciting a minor to commit an act of gross indecency with him and another of gross indecency were dismissed.

Offences against four boys aged between 10 and 14 are alleged to have taken place at the accused’s St Martin’s home.

The man denies all charges.

Advocate Ferbrache said that there had been collusion between the boys and submitted that there was no case to answer.

Magistrate Russell Finch ruled that it would be unsafe to proceed with two of the charges but felt that there was a case to answer on the other four.

When the case resumed yesterday, the defendant, in answer to Advocate Ferbrache, denied showing pornographic videos to the boys at his house. He denied knowing how to work the video recorder and also denied giving the boys alcohol.

Advocate Ferbrache asked why the boys might want to make untrue statements.

‘They made it up in the playground as they all know each other,’ the man said.

Crown Advocate Graeme McKerrell said this was ‘pure speculation’.

The court heard how the man returned to his home one day to find the front door broken open and the police searching.

‘I said what the heck have I done?’ he said.

Pornographic magazines and videos were seized in the raid and he was arrested.

Advocate McKerrell asked whether the accused thought it normal to share a bed with a boy of 14.

‘I regret it now, but I used to share a bed with my brothers,’ the defendant replied.

Advocate McKerrell asked why the bedroom door was padlocked. In interview, he had told police it was because he had pornography there.

The man said his bedroom was private. He was not interested in pornography, he said; someone else had given him the magazines and he intended to burn them when he had time.

Advocate McKerrell wondered when he had received the last one.

The man said he had not wanted to offend the person by refusing them and he had not received one for three years.

Advocate McKerrell said that three years was a long time to keep something of which you wanted to be rid.

The defendant said the boys must have put the videotapes in his bedroom.

Advocate McKerrell said they would have trouble getting in because of the lock.

An adult family member was shocked to learn of the pornography.

The defendant could not work the video recorder, witness said, but he agreed with Advocate McKerrell that the accused’s sharing his bed with a 14-year-old boy was unusual behaviour.

A 12-year-old boy witness said that no one had watched porn videos or been given drink.

Cross-examined, he said that a 12-year-old alleged victim had told him that his mother was telling him what to say about the allegations.

The defence is expected to start summing up this morning.