A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a Highbridge pensioner after he failed to turn up at court to face a string of serious child sex abuse allegations near Wells.

Roger Sanders, 76, of Church Road, East Brent, was due to appear in the dock before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

He is charged with two counts of that between November 1, 2016 and November 30, 2016 near Wells, being a person aged 18 or over, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, he intentionally engaged in sexual activity in the presence of a girl under the age of 13.

He also faces a similar charge between January 1 and February 28, 2017 He was also alleged to have intentionally touched a girl under the age of 13 between January 1 and 31, 2017 along with a similar offence between January 1 and February 28, 2017.

All five offences are alleged to have involved the same complainant.

Sanders was expected to attend court and enter his pleas to the charge but failed to show up on the day of the hearing.

As a result the magistrates issued a warrant for the defendant’s arrest where he will be brought to the court on a future date in custody.