FOUR men have appeared in court accused of more than 100 sexual offences involving young boys.

The crimes are alleged to have taken place in Bournemouth over a period of nearly 17 years and involve 12 alleged victims.

Offences range from rape, indecent assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity to sexual activity with a child, taking indecent pictures of a child and making indecent pictures of a child.

The appearance at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday was the latest stage of a detailed police inquiry.

Kevin Carpenter, 49, of St Swithun’s Road, Bournemouth, is charged with 61 offences including indecent assault, taking indecent pictures, sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, making indecent pictures and other serious sexual offences. The charges against him span a period of 17 years.

Robert Marti, 55, of Haviland Mews, Boscombe, is charged with committing 28 crimes, including four charges of rape and offences of indecent assault, sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The charges relate to the period 2001 to 2009.

Luke James, 35, of Charminster Road, Bournemouth, is accused of eight offences including indecent assault, another serious sexual offence and sexual activity with a child.

He also faces a further eight charges in a separate case involving making indecent photographs. The offences are alleged to have been carried out between 1998 and 2009.

David Coxhead, a 52-year-old from the Bristol area, faces 11 charges including indecency with a child, indecent assault and another serious offence. The offences are said to have taken place between 1997 and 1998.

All four men deny all the charges against them and will face a trial lasting several weeks next year.

Carpenter, Marti and James were remanded in custody and Coxhead was granted unconditional bail.