Hall will not testify in sex trial

Paedophile broadcaster Stuart Hall will not give evidence from the witness box in defence of sex assault allegations, a jury has been told.

Hall, 84, has pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court to 20 allegations of rape and indecent assault between 1976 and 1981 against two young girls.

The complainants came forward after he was jailed last year for a string of historical indecent assaults against 13 young girls.

Following the end of the prosecution case, Crispin Aylett QC, defending Hall, said: “I am not intending to call the defendant to give evidence.”

It is said the former It’s A Knockout presenter groomed his victims and plied them with alcohol before he raped them.

One of the complainants,  Girl B, said Hall raped her when she was aged 12 at a stables  and went on to rape her at various locations, including at two BBC studios, when she was 14 and  15.

The other alleged victim, Girl A, said she was raped on numerous occasions at the same Manchester studios at Piccadilly and Oxford Road when she was aged between 14 and 16.

Hall said the alleged rape at the stables did not take place, while other sexual contact was consensual. He has admitted to indecently assaulting Girl B when she was aged 13.

The trial continues.