A FATHER-of-two described as a respected musician, broadcaster and teacher has appeared in court charged with rape.

John Grindell, 47, appeared in custody before Flintshire Magistrates’ Court at Mold.
Grindell, currently suspended from his music teaching post at Penley near Wrexham, was granted bail by District Judge Andrew Shaw.

He is charged with raping a teenage girl in August. He also faces a charge of sexually touching the girl, involving intercourse.

The case was sent to the crown court and he will appear at a preliminary hearing at Mold Crown Court shortly.

Christine O’Kane, prosecuting, said she did not object to bail, subject to conditions.

She said a police investigation had started last December and Grindell had been on police bail since then.

He went to the police station and was charged Wednesday and made his first appearance in court yesterday, from custody.

Grindell had already been suspended from his job, she said.

Huw Roberts, defending, said bail should continue and described his client as married with children who was respectable and a respected musician, broadcaster and teacher.

He was bailed on condition that he lives at home in Petit Close, Cefnybedd, between Mold and Wrexham.

The judge also ordered that he should not contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly in any way.