JURORS trying a Northleach man on charges of raping and sexually abusing two young girls in Bibury more than a decade ago have been sent home for the weekend after failing to reach any verdicts during deliberations yesterday (Fri).

After a five day trial the jury was sent out yesterday afternoon to start considering its verdicts on 12 charges against Kevin Blackwell, 52.

An hour and a quarter later the judge, Recorder Sarah Vaughan-Jones QC, recalled jurors to court and discharged them for the weekend,

She told them to return on Monday morning to continue their discussions.

Mr Blackwell has denied that he had any sexual contact with either of the girls, who are now women in their late 20s and early 30s.

He pleads not guilty to four charges of indecently assaulting the older of the two girls on at least eight occasions between July 1992 and July 1998.

He also denies six charges of raping the younger girl on at least seven occasions between August 1995 and August 2004.

And he has denied two other charges of gross indecency or having sexual activity with the younger girl.

Both girls lived in Bibury at the time of the alleged offences, which the prosecution started when the girls were aged about five and were at primary school.