Pair charged with multiple child sex offences

A man and woman are due to appear before magistrates in Leeds on Friday

A man and a woman have been charged with a string of historic child sexual offences.

Darren Gibson, 55, formerly of Armley in Leeds, is accused of 44 sex offences including nine counts of rape relating to girls aged under 16, alleged to have taken place in the city between 1997 and 2005, West Yorkshire Police said.

Rebecca Kirton, 40, also formerly of Armley, is charged with 14 sex offences alleged to have taken place between 2002 and 2004, including two counts of raping girls under the age of 16, officers said.

Both have been remanded in custody and are due to appear before Leeds Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Mr Gibson is charged with:

• Nine counts of rape relating to girls aged under 16

• One count of attempted rape relating to a girl aged under 16

• 24 counts of indecent assault relating to girls aged under 16

• Two counts of indecent assault relating to girls aged under 13

• Three counts of gross indecency relating to girls aged under 16

• One count of gross indecency relating to a girl aged under 13

• Two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15

• Two counts of assault by touching of a girl aged under 13

Ms Kirton is charged with:

• Two counts of raping girls aged under 16

• One count of attempted rape of a girl aged under 16

• Seven counts of indecent assault relating to girls aged under 16

• Three counts of engaging in sexual activity relating to girls aged 13 to 15

• One count of assault by touching of a girl aged under 13

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.