FELIXSTOWE businessman and charity worker Tony Snooks, whose convictions for rape and under-age sex were quashed, will back before the courts next week.

FELIXSTOWE businessman and charity worker Tony Snooks, whose convictions for rape and under-age sex were quashed, will back before the courts next week.

Snooks has been summoned to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court, in London, on Monday , to face a retrial.

A spokeswoman for the crown court said the charges listed against Snooks for the hearing were rape and sexual intercourse with a girl under 16.

It is not known though whether these charges will be altered and what plea he intends to offer.

Snooks, 38, was jailed for seven years for rape and under age sex but had his convictions overturned by the Appeal Court.

Formerly of Manning Road, Felixstowe, but currently living in Ipswich, Snooks was jailed in August 2000 at Ipswich Crown Court after he was found guilty of one count of rape and two of having sexual intercourse with a girl under 16.

But London's Criminal Appeal Court later decided the convictions were "unsafe" due to the inadequacy of the trial judge's directions to the jury in relation to Snooks' character.

After serving 20 months of his sentence, he was freed on bail in May by Lord Justice Mantell, sitting with Mr Justice Gage and Mr Justice Field, to wait for a date for the retrial.

Bail was granted on condition that he reports to Ipswich police weekly and must not have direct or indirect contact with any prosecution witnesses.

Snooks is well-known in Felixstowe for his business enterprises and his generous and tireless charity work, and the community was shocked at the convictions.

He gave anything he could to help the less privileged. When he ran Nicony's Health and Fitness Centre at the Herman de Stern, he was praised by the family of a disabled girl after helping to raise £300 to complete a fundraising appeal to buy her a computer to aid with learning.

He also dedicated time to raising money for the children's intensive care unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

When running Alby's Surf and Snack Shack beachside cafe he used his liabilities policy to help stage charity events such as bungee jumps and the annual strongman competition, saving charities hundreds of pounds on insurance.