Rabbi ‘locked woman into his study to abuse her’

A respected Golders Green rabbi locked a young woman in his study and groped her breasts, a court heard. Chaim Halpern, 68, charged under his English name Aaron, is accused of inappropriately touching the complainant as she sought ‘Halachic’ advice – religious guidance, at his synagogue. Halpern allegedly asked the woman if she ‘had ever had the pleasure of a man bending down on his knees and asking for mercy’. Stephen Wells, prosecuting, told jurors at Harrow Crown Court the…