THE jury will be sent out today, Wednesday, to consider their verdict on businessman Stephen Read who is accused of sexually molesting four boys over a 15-year period.
Read, aged 58, from Bussage, has pleaded not guilty to 15 charges of sexual assault against the four boys aged around 12 at the time.
The alleged offences are claimed to have taken place on shooting, swimming and fishing trips which the defendant undertook with the boys on and in his car.
The allegations included inappropriate touching, showing the boys pornographic videos and making indecent suggestions, all of Read which denies.
Yesterday, Tuesday, at Gloucester Crown Court in their closing speeches, the prosecution asked the jury why the victims should make up the allegations if they were not true but the defence accused alleged victims of "jumping on the bandwagon" and responding to gossip in the "claustrophobic community" of Bussage.
A possible plan by the alleged victims to make life difficult for the defendant was suggested by the defence.
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