A FORMER North Yorkshire county councillor was appearing in court with one of his sons today charged in connection with sexual offences.

Detectives investigating allegations of sexual abuse and assault, made by a number of women, arrested Raymond Coates, 76, at his home in Huby, and his son Nigel, 46, at his home in Acomb, York, yesterday morning.

Raymond Coates has been charged with committing an act of gross indecency against a woman aged under 16 at Scarborough between 1983 and 1988.

He is accused of indecently assaulting a woman aged over 16 at Scarborough between April and August this year, and of indecently assaulting another woman aged over 16 at Scarborough between March and August this year.

He faces a further joint charge of inciting another woman to commit a serious sexual act with an animal at Huby between 1987 and 1989. Philip Nigel Coates, of Ascot Way, Acomb, is jointly charged with inciting a woman to commit a serious sexual act with an animal at Huby between 1987 and 1998.

He faces a further charge of procuring a woman to become a common prostitute at Huby between 1988 and 1995.

Police searched the Coates family home, Oaktree Sawmills, in Huby, and took away a number of items.

The family spoke of their shock at the arrests.

Raymond Coates's wife, Wendy, 65, said: "It was a dreadful shock, but the police were very nice about it all.

"I think someone has got it in for us. I have been married to Raymond for 49 years and I would know if he had been involved in anything."

His daughter, Marilyn Smith, 41, said: "It was a hell of a shock, especially to my dad. It's just crazy really."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman told the Evening Press yesterday: "Following allegations made by a number of women of sexual abuse and assault, North Yorkshire Police have been undertaking an inquiry based in Scarborough.

"Police officers attended an address in Huby and arrested a 76-year-old man on suspicion of committing a number of sexual offences. Police also attended an address in Acomb, York, and arrested a 46-year-old man on suspicion of committing a number of sexual offences."

The pair were appearing before Scarborough Magistrates today.

Updated: 12:50 Thursday, November 07, 2002