UPDATED: Three in court charged with historic sex offences at former children’s home in Leeds

Melvin Hamilton Blake, of Ellar Gardens, Menston, and Len Anthony Lake, of Luttrell Crescent, Lawnswood, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court this morning. (Friday November 13)

Blake, 69, faces a total of 30 charges relating to the former Shadwell Children’s home in Leeds in the 1980s and 1990s.

He has been charged with two serious sexual assaults, 11 counts of indecent assault, seven counts of possession of prohibited images of children and ten counts of possession of extreme pornography portraying sexual acts with a live animal.

Lake, 61, has been charged with two counts of indecent assault between June 27 1987 and February 18 1991.

Marion Beresford, 60, of Thornwood Drive Glasgow, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.

She has been charged with seven counts of indecent assault at the former Shadwell children’s home.

All three defendants were granted unconditional bail ahead of a hearing at Leeds Crown Court on December 11.