Pastor back behind bars

A pastor already on trial for assault and sex offences is back in hot water and behind bars.

Royden Wood, 57, the former pastor of the now-defunct Ambassador Baptist Church, was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of breaching his bail conditions.

He’s accused of failing to comply with a residency condition and for communicating with a person he was not to contact.

Wood, his glasses perched on his nose and in blue jeans and a button-up blue shirt, appeared in court yesterday.

He politely asked for a bail hearing today so he could continue to work on his defence for his trial that continues March 31.

He asked duty counsel Brian Farmer to give a message to his wife, seated in the public pews.

Wood is defending himself without a lawyer in Superior Court. He is charged with 10 counts of assaulting three boys who were pupils at the church’s alternative school from 1985 to 1987.

He also faces three sex-related charges involving two females and breast-fondling.

During the trial, there have been revelations of bizarre behaviour and teachings at the church at Adelaide and King Streets that closed last fall.

Witnesses have told of Wood’s “affection program” aimed at having members getting to know each other so they could take their Christian message out into the community.

Couples were encouraged to date spouses of other members.

There are allegations Wood would undo women’s bras in church and comment on breast sizes. Wood was charged in September 2005.

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