Pensioner flies in to face sex charges

A PENSIONER who returned from the Philippines to face justice in Britain has appeared in court charged with a string of sex offences involving boys.

Douglas Slade, 74, flew into Heathrow Airport from the Philippines late on Wednesday evening and was immediately arrested.

He was seen exiting the arrivals hall at Terminal 4 in a wheelchair, flanked by six officials who escorted him to a waiting police van.

One source said that Slade, who ran a firm selling pork pies in the Philippines, had sold his house in Angeles City for about £97,000 before returning to Britain.

On Friday morning, he appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court charged with eight offences.

The alleged offences, against three boys aged between 11 and 15, were said to have taken place in the Bristol area in the 1960s and 1970s.

Slade left Britain in 1985 but was arrested last year by the Filipino immigration authorities in Angeles City.

Avon and Somerset police said he was expelled from the Philippines on the grounds of public safety.

It is understood Slade voluntarily left the country and bought his own business-class plane ticket.

Slade, who lived in the Knowle West area of Bristol, did not enter an official plea at the magistrates’ court but his solicitor indicated that he would be denying all the allegations.

Slade was remanded in custody until another court hearing next month.