Neil Beckett: Man charged with raping teenage girl

Neil Beckett pictured at a previous court appearance

A 43-year-old man has appeared in court charged with raping a teenage girl.

Neil Beckett, from Kilmore Village in Downpatrick, County Down, is awaiting a Crown Court trial for alleged sexual assaults on 11 other girls between September 2018 and February 2023.

He is currently suspended as a health and wellbeing officer at Lagan College.

However, the new charges are understood to be unconnected to his position at the school.

On Friday, Belfast Magistrates' Court heard they include rape, sexual assault by penetration, meeting a child following sexual grooming and two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person while in a position of trust.

These charges relate to one complainant on dates between 2014 and 2016.

The defendant confirmed he understood the charges.

A prosecution lawyer said "case preparation is fast-tracking this through to go into the Crown Court trial".

Proceedings were adjourned for two weeks for a preliminary enquiry to be completed.