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- Weymouth councillor Ryan Hope is appearing at Bournemouth Crown Court this morning accused of nine offences including rape of a child under the age of 13 and sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.
- Today is the first day of the trial.
- Hope, 22, of Norfolk Road, has denied all offences.
- The allegations span a period between October 17, 2005, and December 31, 2012, and relate to a single victim.
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