AN ORPINGTON man has appeared in court today (July 24) charged with historic child sex offences.

Nigel Pickering, 58, was at Croydon Crown Court facing three counts of rape with a girl under 16 and one count of indecent assault on a girl under 16.

The allegations date back more than 15 years and are reported to have taken place between April 1997 and April 1998.

He formerly lived in Poverest Road, Orpington, but has since moved to Durham.

Pickering first appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court on July 10.