CHILDREN'S CHARITY WORKER FROM NEW BRIGHTON IN COURT ON CHILD PORN AND SEX ASSAULT CHARGES
A children's charity worker from New Brighton appeared in court today facing a string of sex assault, child porn and violence allegations.Matthew Byrne, who ran the Young Person's Advisory Service in Liverpool, was initially charged with five offences but now faces a further nine offences.
The 37-year-old, of Tollemache Street, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link equipment from Walton jail.
His original charges involve allegedly falsely imprisoning a prostitute, assaulting her by penetration, wounding her and another woman and possessing child porn.
The new allegations involve raping and wounding a third woman, falsely imprisoning and causing grievous bodily harm to two other women and twice sexually assaulting one of them by penetration.
It is also claimed he inflicted grievous bodily harm on a sixth woman and outraged public decency on a train involving taking photographs of school children.
All the offences allegedly occurred between July last year and June 5 this year.
Byrne, a former Liberal Democrat candidate in Wirral Council elections in 2006, was further remanded in custody until October 21 when he is expected to enter his pleas.
It is understood his membership of the Lib Dems has since lapsed.
