Richard Griffiths, 41, denied two offences of rape, plus a third of assault by penetration, when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Wednesday, July 29. The three offences are alleged to have been committed on the same date and against the same victim. Griffiths is alleged to have committed them on May 29, 2025, in the village of Worthen, Shropshire, just over the Powys border, close to Welshpool. He told Griffiths, of Liverpool Road West, Oswestry: “It is an unjustifiable period of time but, unfortunately, that is where we are with the system.” Griffiths had originally appeared at Telford Magistrates' Court on July 1, where his case was sent to the higher court.