SAINTS boss Dave Jones today denied ten charges of sexually abusing and physically mistreating young boys.

Jones, 43, pleaded not guilty to four charges of indecent assault and six of ill-treatment when he appeared before Liverpool magistrates this morning.

The charges relate to four boys under 16 at a time when Jones was working in a children's residential home in the late-1980s.

He faces four matters of indecent assault on two different children. Jones is also accused of wilfully assaulting, neglecting, abandoning or ill-treating boys under 16.

None of the alleged victims or the children's home involved can be identified for legal reasons. Jones stared at the floor as the matters were read out by prosecutor Deborah Walsh.

Stipendiary magistrate Paul Firth ruled the allegations would have to be heard at Liverpool Crown Court and adjourned proceedings for committal papers to be prepared.

Jones was granted conditional bail until the next hearing on December 13. The conditions were not to contact any prosecution witness, to live at his current address and not to communicate with past or present staff at the children's home involved.

Earlier, campaigners had chanted support as the former social worker arrived at the court at 9.40am. As police ushered him through waiting cameramen, several women shouted: "We know you are innocent Mr Jones." The father-of-four held his wife's hand tightly and stared straight ahead as he went into the courthouse.

Once inside, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and to give his not-guilty pleas.

Wearing an immaculate dark suit and red tie, he shook his head as a new tenth charge was put to him.

The charges are part of a large-scale child abuse inquiry across the North West.

Codenamed Operation Care, the investigation centres on historical allegations of abuse in children's homes and other voluntary organisations.

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