A 73-YEAR-OLD man is to stand trial charged with raping two girls, in allegations stretching back almost 50 years.

Jeremiah Cummings made his first appearance at Bradford Crown Court yesterday. Cummings, of Arncliffe Road, Healey, Batley, is accused of 17 offences said to have taken place in Bradford against two girls, who were under 16 at the time.

Nine of the offences allege rape between September 1965 and September 1974.

A further eight rape charges span a period between February 1976 and February 1984.

The case was committed to the Crown Court by Bradford and Keighley magistrates on December 9.

Cummings’ five-day trial was fixed to start on July 6.

He will next appear in court for a case-management hearing on March 3. Judge Jonathan Rose enlarged bail until the next hearing.