Orthodox Man Pleads Not Guilty In Shul Assault

London, UK -- An Orthodox man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy in a Shul bathroom.

The 24 year-old defendant from Golders Green, North-West London, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday and will face trial in January 2009, accused of four offences relating to the incident which is alleged to have occured about four years ago.

The victim had left his family home on the day of the alleged incident to buy milk for his mother in nearby Stamford Hill. Prosecutors say the boy was approached in the street by the defendant, who asked him to show him where a particular Shul was. Once there, the accused allegedly dragged the boy into the bathroom where the victim says the attack took place.
Currently, the accused is out on bail.

The accused's lawyer recently persuaded Judge David Radford to change his bail conditions which prohibited him from entering any Shul. Judge Radford agreed that he can now attend the Biala Shtibel in Clapton as long as he is with one of eight chaperones, who are all officially Rabbim and members of the community.