Accused appeared ‘calm’ after boy’s cliff fall, court told

A man accused of raping a young girl “appeared quite calm” after allegedly throwing her brother off a cliff, a court has heard.

Anthony Stocks, 54, of Iceni Close in Goring, Oxfordshire, denies charges of attempted murder, sexual assault, and rape.

He allegedly threw the boy off a set of cliffs near Ovingdean, near Brighton, after he found out his sister was being abused.

A passer-by told Oxford Crown Court that after the near-fatal fall Mr Stocks sat down and rolled a cigarette.

Neither of the children can be named for legal reasons.

Anthony Balding, who was walking with his partner on the cliff top, said the boy “seemed quite exuberant” and was walking along a grass embankment with his arms out as if he was trying to balance.

Mr Stocks was walking several paces behind, very quickly, as if…