A man has gone on trial accused of the sexual abuse of three young boys – some of which is alleged to have taken place in Bolton.

Norman Williams is alleged to have targeted three boys from the late 1990s to the early 2000s at a time when they were under the age of 16.

The 58-year-old is on trial at Bolton Crown Court.

Against the first complainant he is accused of three counts of rape between January 1997 and January 2001.

He is further accused of nine counts of indecent assault on the same man from January 1996 to January 2001.

Against the second complainant he is accused of four counts of indecent assault between October 1995 and October 1999 and three counts of rape between October 1997 and October 1999.

One of the indecent assault and rape counts he is alleged to have been committed with another unknown man at an unknown property in Bolton 

Other than this the offences are said to have taken place at an address in Hag Fold, Wigan and later at an address on Leigh Road, Howe Bridge, Atherton.

He is also accused of actual bodily harm against the second complainant between October 1999 and October 2000.

Against a third complainant, he is alleged to have committed an indecent assault between January 1998 and December 1999 at the address on Leigh Road.

Read more: Fence put up to deter yobs at sheltered housing scheme

Read more: Murder suspect says he found victim on the couch dead

Read more: Convicted murderer wanted by police

Simon Blakebrough, opening the case, said it was “the prosecution case that the defendant repeatedly raped and sexually abused” the first two complainants “over several years.”

“The majority of the offending took place at two addresses in Hag Fold and Howe Bridge, the addresses of Mr Williams.”

He said the two would be lured in with things they could not get elsewhere such as “games consoles” or “alcohol” but would be threatened if they did not do what Williams wanted.

He said the first complainant informed the police in January 2019 and the second one did so a short time later.

Mr Blakebrough said of the first complainant: “He said this happened from when he was about 12 to when he was about 16.”

He said the abuse began with Mr Williams performing a sexual activity on him and moved on to raping him.

He said he remembers, along with the second complainant, being shown pornography and being asked to replicate this.

Mr Blakebrough said the second complainant said abuse began when he was between 12 and 13.

He said on one occasion he was taken to an address in Bolton and placed in a coffin-like item before another man indecently assaulted and raped him.

He said after this Mr Williams took him to McDonald's in Bolton and paid him £100.

The third complainant gave a statement to the police in 2020.

He alleges he went to the defendant’s house on Leigh Road and Mr Williams touched his private parts for around 30 seconds.

Mr Blakeborough later revealed what Mr Williams told the police when interviewed.

He said that he “denied there had ever been sexual activity” with the third complainant.

But he said “sexual activity” with the first two complainants “took place after they were 16 with their full consent.”

Williams, from Leigh Road in Atherton and represented by Colin Buckle, denies all the allegations before him.

The trial, before Judge Jon Close, continues.