A CHURCH minister, who faces rape conspiracy and other sexual offence charges, today appeared in court for the first time.

The Reverend John Wilson, 69, faces a total of 20 charges of historical sex offences against females.

They include six allegations of conspiracy to rape, of which he is jointly accused with a second man.

Wilson, of Shann Avenue, Keighley, who is listed as the pastor at the Liberty Pentecostal Church in Keighley, appeared with co-accused Laurence Peterson, 58, of Eric Street, Keighley, before Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court.

Wilson faces 13 charges of indecent assault, relating to two women. Five of those charges alleged he indecently assaulted a girl under 16.

Four of the conspiracy to rape charges relate to a woman over 18 and two are alleged to have been against a girl under 16.

The 17 charges relating to one woman cover a period between October 26, 1985, and October 25, 1995 and were alleged to have been committed in Bradford.

The three charges involving a second woman were alleged to have been committed between July 1980 and July 1982, in Knowle Park, Keighley.

Wilson faces a further charge of sexually assaulting a woman at Liberty Pentecostal Church in Sunderland Street, Keighley, between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.

Wilson, who is balding with grey hair and a thick grey moustache appeared in the dock smartly-dressed in a pale blue and white striped shirt, black belted trousers and black shoes.

His co-accused Peterson, also balding with dark hair and a thick dark moustache, wore a grey Tweed jacket, grey shirt, black trousers and brown shoes.

Both spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth during the ten-minute hearing.

Solicitor Lisa Julian, representing both men, said she had not yet been served with relevant information by the prosecution, despite the fact that it was a serious case involving a two-year investigation. 

District Judge Richard Clews told the defendants: "Some of the charges you face are of a degree of seriousness whereby they must be dealt with at crown court."

He said he was sending all matters to Bradford Crown Court where Wilson and Peterson will next appear on June 7. 

Wilson was granted bail on two conditions, that he does not contact, directly or indirectly, two named witnesses, and not to have custody or control of any child under 16.

Peterson was granted bail on condition that he does not contact the two witnesses.

After leaving the court building the defendants covered their faces and ran to a waiting car, as a woman waved her arms at a photographer.