Simon Howard has appeared at York Crown Court via video link this afternoon facing two child sex abuse charges.
He is charged with one count of indecent assault on a child under the age of 14 and one count of incitement to commit gross indecency.
The 65 year old’s legal representative Tariq Hussain indicated at an earlier hearing that Howard intends to plead not guilty to the charges.
But today Howard’s barrister Abbas Lakha said he would be submitting papers and calling on expert witnesses surrounding Howard’s fitness to plea.
The charges relate to alleged incidents involving a single girl on the Castle Howard estate back in 1984. The former Castle Howard manager was living on the estate at that time, though he has since moved to Malton.
Dressed in a suit and yellow tie, Howard leaned forward to follow proceedings.
Judge Hickey told him that his case will be heard by trial starting on 18 October. When asked if he understood, Simon Howard’s barrister again stepped in and said he would explain the proceedings to his client.
Abbas Lakha requested, in light of the medical paperwork that will be submitted, that Howard was not pressed further for a reply to the judge.
Howard managed his family’s stately home, which featured in Brideshead Revisited and the Netflix show Bridgerton, for more than 30 years.
The Howard family have pledged their support to Simon Howard. In a statement they released when Howard was charged they said: ‘Simon Howard’s whole family are shocked by these allegations and are fully supportive of SH’s confidence that he is innocent of all charges – which he denies in the strongest possible terms.”
A further hearing is expected to be held at York Crown Court on 8 October.
Howard’s unconditional bail was extended until his trial date of 18 October.