A man charged with 16 sex offences against young girls in Tenterden and Headcorn has been found dead.

Victor Farley, 62, was due to appear before Folkestone magistrates last Monday.

He was charged with three offences of gross indecency with a girl under 14, two of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and 11 of indecent assault on a girl under 14.

The offences are alleged to have happened between 1984 and 1998.

Farley, of Ciliau Aeron, Lampeter, Dyfed, Wales, failed to appear and magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest.

A spokesman for Dyfed Powys police said: “On Tuesday, November 10, the senior coroner for Ceredigion, Mr P.I. Brunton, opened an inquest into the death of Victor Farley, aged 62, whose body was found near his home in Ciliau Aeron, Lampeter, Ceredigion, on Monday, November 9.

“Evidence of identifications was taken and the inquest was adjourned. No date has been confirmed yet.”