A FORMER GP who was found dead following a police search had been due to appear in court on child sex charges.

Dr Andrew Stanford, 67, of Riccall, had been expected to attend Selby Magistrates’ Court on July 14 to answer seven counts of sexual assault.

The court documents showed all seven offences were allegedly committed on ten and 11-year-old girls in Riccall between January 1 and February 28 this year.

He was charged with the offences on June 17 and bailed to appear before Selby magistrates, but disappeared eight days before the hearing.

The former GP was reported missing by his wife, Margaret, on Wednesday, July 6, leading to a police search and house-to-house inquiries.

Dr Stanford’s body was found the following day in an outhouse at his property. An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned by the coroner last week.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said they believed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Brian Keen, chairman of Riccall Parish Council, saw Dr Stanford only days before his death, and said he would be sorely missed. He said: “I was with him judging allotment field gardens in the parish, and he seemed perfectly fine, like the Andrew I always knew.

“We judged the allotments then walked back up the road together, he went one way and I went the other.

“He didn’t seem strange to me, there was nothing to indicate there was anything wrong.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard. He was a nice guy, would do anything for you. He was a gentleman and will be sorely missed.”

A memorial service was held for Dr Stanford on Monday, at St Mary’s Church in Riccall.

Dr Stanford, a father of three, spent 27 years working at Selby’s Posterngate Surgery, until he retired in 2004. He had previously worked as a missionary in Tanzania, and had a keen interest in artillery.