Exclusive: Isle of Wight festival operations manager faces rape trial
An Isle of Wight Festival Manager and former Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police officer faces a rape trial we can exclusively reveal. Isle of Wight Festival Operations manager David Steele a former police dog handler of 20 years who served on the Island has entered a plea of not guilty to one charge of rape. The incident took place in Cowes Isle of Wight, last July (2015). It has been confirmed that he will stand trial at Chichester Crown Court in January 2017. The trial is scheduled to last five days. Steele has been granted conditional bail until this date, it is alleged that he is currently residing at the home of Island festival promoter John Giddings in Ryde. Steele who was appointed the position of Isle of Festival operations manager late 2012 has pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing held at Chichester Crown Court on 22nd March 2016 before Recorder West QC. We contacted Solo, the company that runs the Isle of Wight Festival for a comment from Mr Giddings, who declined to comment, they advised no one was available. Editor Note :We held back on publishing as this as we awaited confirmation that Steele was still in the position at this years festival.
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