Jimmy Savile's ex-flatmate and driver, Ray Teret, bailed over sex offences

The 72-year-old faces charges of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault

Ray Teret, a close friend of Jimmy Savile's, has been charged with a series of serious sex offences against young girls (Getty Images)

Jimmy Savile's former chauffeur was released on bail today after being charged with 32 sex offences, mostly against underage girls.

Ray Teret, 72, was charged on Friday night following an investigation in which he was initially arrested and bailed last November.

He appeared before Manchester City Magistrates Court today and was freed on strict bail conditions until mid-November where he will appear before before the city's Crown Court.

No pleas were entered.

He faces 15 counts of rape of a female under 16, one of rape, one of attempted rape of a female under 16, six counts of indecent assault of a female under 16, three counts of indecent assault of a female under 14 and one count of gross indecency with a child under 13.

Teret, of Atrincham, also faces two counts of conspiracy to rape a girl under 16, one of possession of extreme pornography, one of possession of prohibited images and one of possession of an indecent image of a child.

He was bailed until November 15, to appear at Manchester Crown Court.

When the investigation was originally launched police emphasised that the accusations were separate to those that prompted the national inquiry into abuse by Savile, with whom Teret worked and once shared a flat.

As part of the investigation into Teret, William Harper, 65, of Stretford is charged with conspiracy to rape a girl under 16 and attempt rape of a female under the age of 16 and Alan Ledger, 62, of Altrincham is charged with indecent assault of a female under 16 and aiding and abetting the rape of a female under 16.