Charity worker’s further sex charges

Jul 22 2009 by Chloe Griffiths, Birkenhead News

A CHILDREN’S charity boss accused of sexual assault and possessing indecent images is now facing 10 further charges.

Matthew Byrne, 37, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday charged with five offences, including false imprisonment and two counts of assault.

But Kim Egerton, prosecuting, told the court Byrne was now facing 10 more allegations.

Byrne, of Tollemache Street, Wallasey, who ran the Young Person’s Advisory Service working with children as young as 10, is now also charged with raping a woman and causing her grievous bodily harm, in January this year.

He is also charged with false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm to a further woman, in March this year. Byrne also faces charges from April of false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of sexual assault.

A charge from May is another charge of causing grievous bodily harm, while the final count alleges he outraged public decency on June 5.

Miss Egerton told the court all 15 allegations would now be consolidated so they could be heard together.

Byrne, via video-link from Walton prison, did not enter any pleas.