FIVE men have appeared in court charged with indecent assaults on former pupils at St Mary's Hall at Stonyhurst.

The five include three former teachers at the top preparatory school, another teacher, who was at St Mary's Hall but was this week suspended from Stonyhurst College, and a former priest at the preparatory school.

They appeared separately at Blackburn magistrates' court and were all directed to stand trial at Preston Crown Court. They were all bailed to appear back at the magistrates' court in eight weeks when committal will take place.

The five were: Rae Lawrence Carter, 68, of Bleasdale Avenue, Clitheroe, a former head of the college, who faced one charge dating back to 1972; John James Pearson, 87, of Winckley Square, Preston, a former priest, who faced two charges dating back to 1973; John Richard Steel, 75, of Copthorn Common, West Sussex, who faced nine charges relating to five different individuals on dates between 1971 and 1977; Raymond Turner, 64, of Smithy Row, Hurst Green, the suspended teacher, who faced three charges between 1972 and 1977 against one boy; and Anthony John, 56, of Brennand Street, Clitheroe, an ex music teacher, who faced one charge from 1976.

The five were arrested as part of a major police inquiry launched after the arrest of the former head teacher at the catholic school, Robert O'Brien. He is currently awaiting trial at Preston Crown Court on six offences of indecently assaulting boys under the age of 14 between September 1972 and June 1998.

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