THE Forest of Dean poet and former miner Charles David Harvey, 77, cannot stand trial for alleged sex offences as planned later this month because he has been attacked by a group of youths and badly injured, a court was told Friday, September 2.

Former freeminer Mr Harvey, a father of three from Woodland Rise, Parkend, who has been immortalised in two statues in the Forest of Dean, has pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecently assaulting a girl aged eight and 15 between September 1972 and September 1980.

He has also denied one charge of indecently assaulting a second girl, aged 13 and 14, between May 2001 and May 2004.

And he has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a woman between September 1 and November 1, 2013.

His trial was scheduled to be heard in ten days time, but Gloucester Crown Court was told that on August 28, he was beaten up by a gang of youths.

HIs barrister, David Baker, told the court: "I understand he took it upon himself to correct some youngsters who were behaving badly and they beat him up. The police are aware of it and have taken statements."

Mr Baker said: "His earliest appointment for surgery is September 12, the day the trial is due to begin."

He said Mr Harvey also had an appointment at the end of September with regard to his epilepsy problem, which had led to an earlier collapse in the court dock.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC said: "It would be unfair to try him on September 12 anyway if he is not firing on all cylinders," said the judge.

Later Mr Harvey’s barrister said March 6 next year had been set as the provisional date for trial.

Mr Harvey did not attend Friday’s hearing.