Sex abuse charges for karate chief, 79

A LEADING figure in British karate has appeared in court charged with historic sex abuse offences.

Andrew Sherry, 79, is accused of gross indecency with a boy under 14 and of inciting him to commit an act of gross indecency more than 37 years ago. He is also charged with sexually assaulting a man in 2012.

The alleged offences took place at his home, and at a karate club, in Liverpool.

Sherry, who was European and national champion in the sport, denied the charges when he appeared before Liverpool magistrates on Wednesday. His two alleged victims cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Sherry will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on October 19.

He was chairman and chief instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain but stepped down in March last year for what were described as personal reasons.

At the time he was being investigated by Merseyside Police and denied any wrongdoing. He claimed the allegations were malicious and had arisen because of politics in karate circles.

‘There’s an agenda to do with the politics of karate ... people who have a grudge against me and the organisation,’ he said.