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Jury sworn-in for assault trial

Douglas man denies eight charges

A jury has been selected ahead of the trial of five men accused of historical assaults on boys at a South Cumbria school.

 

The men, whose ages range from 58 to 77, face 11 charges between them - all of which are denied.

 

Derrick William Cooper of Hillberry Green in Douglas is one of the defendants.

 

The 77 year-old faces six charges which allege assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He further denies two charges of cruelty to boys aged under 16.

 

Legal issues will be discussed over the next two days before a trial, expected to last up to eight weeks, starts on Thursday at Carlisle Crown Court.

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