A MAN facing charges of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault involving two boys has been found dead.

Police were called to the home of Ian McManoman, at the Old Co-op Building, in Barclay Road, Longridge, after concerns were raised about his welfare.

Officers had to break in, and found the body of a 49-year-old man.

Police are not treating his death as suspicious.

McManoman had been charged with 10 sexual offences, all dating back to the early 1990s.

He faced one charge of raping a boy under 16 between dates in 1993 and 1994, and two charges of attempted rape of the same boy between the same dates.

McManoman also faced six charges of indecent assault of a boy under the age of 14 in the early half of the 1990s. A tenth charge related to one incident of indecent assault against a boy, under the age of 14, between dates in 2001 and 2002.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “At 11am on Monday, April 15 officers were called to Barclay Court, in Longridge, following concerns about the welfare of Ian McManoman.

“Officers searched the property and sadly found the body of Mr McManoman.

“His next of kin have been formally notified of his death and officers have prepared a file for the coroner.”

The criminal case relating to McManoman has been formally closed by a judge at Preston Crown Court. His funeral took place on Thursday at Longridge Parish Church of St Lawrence, before committal at Preston Crematorium. His family requested donations to the North West Air Ambulance, instead of flowers.