THE man who dresses up as Accrington Stanley's mascot Stan the Monkey was due to appear in court on child sex charges on Thursday after being quizzed twice in a week.
Police stopped Alan Smith, 50, of Carter Street, Accrington, as he drove along Blackburn Road on Wednesday morning.
He was arrested and charged with driving while disqualified, non-penetrative sex with a boy of 13 in October 2003 and non-penetrative sex with a girl of 14 earlier this month. He was held in custody pending an appearance before Hyndburn magistrates.
Smith was already on bail following a lengthy investigation into claims made by two 14-year-old girls.
He is due to appear before Hyndburn magistrates again on Saturday to answer charges of child abduction, two offences of non-penetrative sexual assault and two offences of causing children to watch pornography.
A Stanley spokesman told the Observer: "The police have contacted us to inform us about the case and we have suspended Mr Smith's activities as our official mascot."
Smith was originally arrested in November but was released on bail while the Crown Prosecution Service considered the case.
He was then charged last Friday.
He has appeared at many of the club's games this season as they chase promotion back to the Football League for the first time since 1962.
It is understood no-one else will take over as the monkey character, which made its first appearance at a game against Scarborough in August 2003.
Smith also made headlines last December when he scooped £3,580 after winning the final of BBC quiz show The Weakest Link hosted by Anne Robinson. He used the money to buy a BMW.
