THE trial of a former Ilkley Parish Council chairman who is alleged to have tried to meet young boys in hotels for sexual activity has had to be adjourned until next year.

Military historian and private tutor Heathcliffe Bowen, 49, had been a member of the council for 18 years, and its chairman three times, but he resigned in March last year.

Bowen, of Woodlands Rise, Ilkley, made his first appearance before a crown court judge in relation to the allegations last November and his trial was due to begin at Bradford Crown Court on Monday.

But Judge David Hatton QC revealed that the barrister due to prosecute the case had been taken ill and he would also be unfit to start the case on Tuesday.

Although the indictment containing the charges was not put to Bowen during his last hearing in November the prosecutor on that occasion Stephen Wood revealed that some of the alleged offences related to conversations that the defendant had with children via social media platforms.

The second part of the proposed indictment was said to relate to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

It is understood that some of the evidence includes transcripts of Skype chats involving the defendant and conversations about "meeting young boys in hotels".

Judge Hatton said if the case started later this week it would inevitably carry on until next week and that would cause "chaos" in relation other fixed trials some of which involved defendants in custody.

"So I don't think I have any alternative, although I don't do it with any pleasure, but to remove the case from the list," said the judge.

"And sadly the earliest date the court has, because of its heavy commitments, for a trial with a four-day fixture is January 22, which gives some indication of how busy this court is."

The judge extended Bowen's conditional bail until his trial next year and told him:"I am sorry, as you've heard me say and I repeat it, that it's not possible for your trial to take place today."