Rape suspect denies attacks
A 48-year-old man today denied committing a series of rapes on women and children across south-east England.
Antoni Imiela, a former railway worker from Appledore, near Ashford, Kent, is charged with nine counts of rape against three girls under 16 and five women between November 2001 and October 2002.
Two of the counts of alleged rape relate to one woman.
He also denied the kidnap, indecent assault and attempted rape of a 10-year-old girl in Birmingham on November 21 last year.
Imiela appeared in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court to formally enter the pleas of not guilty. He was dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt and flanked by security staff.
Judge Andrew Patience QC, fixed the date of Imiela's trial for January 13, 2004 and remanded him in custody.
Imiela spoke only to confirm his name, to deny all the charges, and finally indicate that he understood the judge's directions for the date of his trial.
