A BRADFORD theatre director today appeared in court on charges of raping a 15-year-old girl.

Sam Collier, 27, a former house manager at Bradford Playhouse, made a first appearance before District Judge Susan Bouch at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court.

Collier faces four separate charges of raping the under-age girl.

The offences were all alleged to have taken place at Bradford between September 27, 2011, and January 28, 2012.

District Judge Bouch committed his case to Bradford Crown Court.

Fair-haired, clean-shaven Collier, who was wearing a white open-neck shirt, blue anorak, black trousers and black shoes, spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the ten-minute hearing.

Collier, of Norman Lane, Eccleshill, had also faced an allegation of failing to surrender to bail at Trafalgar House police station in Bradford, on August 28 this year, but the prosecution withdrew that charge.

His solicitor, Lisa Julian, said the bail date clashed with a pre-booked trip. A number of unsuccessful attempts to change the date were made.

Prosecutor Suzanne Paige said Collier was on court bail for other similar matters already at the crown court.

Miss Julian said there was no suggestion her client had failed to attend the Crown Court.

She said the judge was aware of the proceedings before the magistrates, and the intention was to get all matters tried together.

District Judge Bouch told Collier his case would be sent to the Crown Court.

She continued his bail with existing conditions, which included surrendering his passport and other travel documents, not to apply for travel documents, reporting to Trafalgar House police station three times a week, not to leave the UK without leave of the court, and not to contact prosecution witnesses.

Miss Julian said there would be an application to vary bail.

Collier is well-known in local amateur theatre circles. As well as his previous links to Bradford Playhouse, he was also appointed manager of the Delius Arts and Cultural Centre in Great Horton Road in 2010, and founded Reinvention, a youth theatre school.

Two years earlier he produced a young talent contest at St George's Hall.

More than 100 young performers took part in Talent 2k8, which was described as Bradford's answer to the X Factor.

In 2009, the former Yorkshire Martyrs pupil gained national exposure when he appeared on BBC's The Weakest Link with Anne Robinson.

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