A CHRISTIAN pastor accused of child abuse as well as sexual and indecent assaults against three girls under 16 denied all the charges against him in court today (February 11).
Howard Curtis, 72, pleaded not guilty to 13 charges put to him at Croydon Crown Court this morning.
Those charges include two of sexual assault against a girl, once between January 2009 and December 2012, and again in July 2013. The girl was aged 13 at the time of the second assault. He also pleaded not guilty to a more serious charge of assault by penetration for the earlier of the two offences.
Curtis is also charged with two indecent assaults on another girl, under 16, between August 1, 1991 and April 1, 1996.
He denied two further sexual assaults against a third girl, again under 16 at the time, which are alleged to have taken place between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009.
As well as those, he faces six counts of child cruelty against five youngsters - three boys and two girls. Those offences are alleged to have taken place on several dates between January 4, 1969 and May 17, 2008.
None of Curtis's alleged victims can be named for legal reasons.
Until May 2012, Curtis was the leader of Coulsdon Christian Fellowship, a church in Chipstead Valley Road. He remained in a senior role at the church until June 2013.
All the offences are alleged to have taken place in the borough of Croydon.
Curtis, of Bloxworth Close, Wallington, was released on bail on condition that he not contact any of the victims, prosecution witnesses and reside at his home address. He also must not visit Coulsdon Christian Fellowship.
Judge Daniel Flahive adjourned the cause until September 14 this year, when Curtis is now due to stand trial.
