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A retired Church of England priest has been charged with 29 sexual offences against three boys, including charges relating to the Isle of Wight.
The allegations against Robert Coles, 71, of Upperton Road, Eastbourne include eight offences of indecent assault on a boy then aged between 10 and 13, at locations in Broadbridge Heath in West Sussex, Devon, Cornwall and the Isle of Wight between 1978 and 1981.
In addition he is charged with 13 assaults on a boy then aged between 15 and 16 at a location in Chichester between 1982 and 1984 and eight offences of indecent assault on a boy then aged between 10 and 13 at locations in Broadbridge Heath in West Sussex, Somerset and Devon between 1978 and 1982.
The 71-year-old was arrested on 6 March and had been on conditional police bail until being charged on Thursday 16 August.
He was released on conditional police bail and is due to before Chichester Magistrates Court on 5 September.
According to Sussex Police, none of the charges relate to any allegations of recent or current offending and police emphasise that there is nothing to suggest that any children are currently at risk.
