The jury in the trial of a former Newport Neighbourhood Watch leader accused of rape and indecent assault retired yesterday to consider its verdict.

Charles Anthony Lane, 56, from Elan Court, Bettws, denies a string of sex and violence charges against women and young girls dating from the early 1970s to July 22, 2002.

Yesterday Judge Chris-topher Llewellyn-Jones QC finished summing up and sent the jury out at 2.25pm.

Before the jury retired Judge Llewellyn-Jones told them they must come to a unanimous verdict and that no majority vote would be allowed. He said: "The crucial thing you have to decide is, are you sure what the witnesses have said in court is true."

He also told them to take as much time as they needed to come to a verdict, saying it was not an issue as to how long they deliberated.

Lane is alleged to have used a dog in two separate sex attacks on women and to have advertised his home for swinging parties in which women were forced to perform sex acts. He is also accused of paying a 15-year-old girl between £40 and £50 to have sex with another man.

Lane denies six counts of rape, four counts of committing indecency with children; four counts of indecent assault; one count of causing or encouraging the prostitution of a girl under the age of 16; one count of procuring a woman to have sex with himself and others by using threats or intimidation; one count of abducting a 15-year-old girl; one count of attempted rape; four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm; one count of grievous bodily harm and one count of witness intimidation.

Proceeding