A man who organised annual Christmas lights switch-ons for New Addington families is to appear in court tomorrow charged with child abuse and sex offences.

Alex Hopkinson, 35, of Uvedale Crescent, is accused of three counts of abusing a position of trust by having sexual activity with a boy aged between 13 and 17, as well possessing or taking indecent photographs of a child and extreme pornographic images.

He was already set to stand trial earlier in October for two counts of sexual assault of a boy under 13 and one of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

He was due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court tomorrow to face the seven new charges.

As well as sexual activity with a boy, he is accused of taking four indecent images of a child, possessing 25 indecent images of children, possessing an extreme pornographic image depicting a person having intercourse with a dog, a horse and a chicken, and possessing an image showing a sex act that was "likely to result in serious injury a person's genitals".

The bus driver became known as a community figure in New Addington for his extravagant festive illuminations, a tradition carried on from his father.

He was arrested in March and re-arrested as part of the same investigation in April.

The offences are all said to have taken place between January 2015 and March 2016.

Since 2013, hundreds of people have turned out each winter to watch a lights switch-on organised by Mr Hopkinson at his parents' house in King Henry's Drive.

The event, which has raised thousands of pounds for charity, was first started by Mr Hopkinson's father Derek at his family home in 1985.

Alex Hopkinson revived the tradition in memory of his father, who died of cancer in 2004.

His display includes 10,000 lights, fireworks, luminous reindeer and glowing choirboys.

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