A BBC star and Harry Potter expert is set to appear in court after being charged with historic child sex offences.
Colin Duriez, 77, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, faces three counts of indecent assault on a girl aged under 16.
The professor and commentator will stand trial at Leicester Crown Court in July after being charged with the assaults between 1989 and 1991.
Duriez is an expert on fantasy literature and has appeared on the BBC’s Worlds of Fantasy series and Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings DvD.
He has written books about the Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien and Chronicles of Narnia writer C.S Lewis.
Duriez lives with his second wife – author Cindy Zudys – and previously lived in Leicestershire and Keswick, Cumbria.
Leicestershire Police said in a statement: ‘Colin Duriez has has been charged with three counts of sexual assault on a girl under the age of 16 between September 1989 and July 1991.’
A spokesperson for Leicester Crown Court added: ‘I confirm that Colin Duriez is charged with three counts of indecent assault of a girl aged under 16, for trial on July 14.’
A famous author and Harry Potter expert is set to appear in court after being charged with historic child sex offences. Colin Duriez (pictured), 77, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, faces three counts of indecent assault on a girl aged under 16
The Professor and commentator will stand trial at Leicester Crown Court in July after being charged with the assaults between 1989 and 1991. Duriez is an expert on fantasy literature and has appeared on the BBC ‘s Worlds of Fantasy series and Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings DvD
His best-selling work includes The Oxford Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien and their circle, the A-Z of C.S Lewis and A Field Guide to Harry Potter
Duriez has had a long career spent writing books and speaking about his work on TV.
A page on his website titled ‘About me’ reads: ‘Colin has contributed to television documentaries including, A Quest for Meaning — Myth, Imagination & Faith in the Literature of J.R.R. Tolkien & C.S. Lewis.
‘He has spoken at a variety of conferences on Tolkien, C. S. Lewis and the Inklings in the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, Poland, Finland, Britain, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland.’
His best-selling work includes The Oxford Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien and their circle, the A-Z of C.S Lewis and A Field Guide to Harry Potter.
Duriez, who has also worked as a tutor at Lancaster University, is thought to have an interest in Christian groups and has focused his studies on Christian authors including Tolkien and C.S Lewis.
Last year Duriez appeared on YouTube to speak about how his passion for literature was born.
He said: ‘It all started when I was at school and we were reading C.S Lewis’ book Mere Christianity.
Duriez, who has also worked as a tutor at Lancaster University, is thought to have an interest in Christian groups and has focused his studies on Christian authors including Tolkien and C.S Lewis
‘It was through him that I came across Tolkien. I went to the University of Istanbul for two years and that’s where I read Lord of the Rings.
‘I then wrote an article on Tolkien and that’s where it all started. Since then I’ve written a few books on Tolkien and his friend C.S Lewis.’
And, discussing his book A Field Guide to Harry Potter, Duriez said: ‘I am trying to give and all-in-one guide to the Harry Potter books which takes into account all seven books.’
