Four men have been accused of sharing a girl for sex abuse whilst they were officers in the Salvation Army at Blackpool.



The men now pensioners- one aged 87-have made their first appearance at court charged with sex offences .

Some allegations date back over forty years when the girl was aged between 12 and 17.
The men were all based at the Blackpool Salvation Army Citadel.
Trevor Worthington(87) of Mayfield Avenue,Thornton Cleveleys is charged with attempted rape and indecent assault
His son Philip Worthington (63) of Warwick Place Blackpool faces four charges of indecent assault on the girl and one of inciting her to commit gross indecency.
William Tompkinson(69) of Raleigh Drive,Blackpool is accused of ten offences of indecent assault and Derek Smith (67) of Hall Park Drive,Lytham faces three allegations of indecent assault.
The four appeared before Blackpool Magistrates Court and their lawyers indicated they would deny the offences at Crown Court.
They were granted unconditional bail by District Judge Joanne Hirst who sent their cases to the higher court.
The assaults are said to have taken place between 1971 and 1978.