101-year-old sex offender who abused children ‘to die in jail’
BRITAIN’S oldest convicted sex offender aged 101 is likely to die in prison, a judge told him yesterday.
Britain's oldest convicted sex offender Ralph Clarke
Judge Richard Bond warned paedophile Ralph Clarke that he could receive a “double-figure” prison term when he is sentenced next week.
Speaking at Birmingham Crown Court, the judge said the public would be “horrified” if he did not jail Clarke, despite his age.
The former lorry driver, from Erdington, Birmingham, was earlier found guilty of 21 charges of historical sex offences.
His three victims wept as the unanimous verdicts were delivered. Clarke abused two young girls, one aged seven, between 1974 and 1983 in a “man cave”-style workshop as well as in the cab of his lorry.
The 101-year-old was found guilty of 21 charges of historic sex offences
Mid-trial, Clarke changed his plea and admitted nine sexual offences against a boy over the same period. Giving evidence, Clarke told the jury the offences against the boy were “something that happened”.
He added: “I had always got a pile of kids around the garage because I used to repair all the bikes for them. They’d come from all over.”
Prosecutor Miranda Moore told the jury that Clarke would often bribe the two girls with sweets and money before forcing both to perform sex acts.
His three victims wept as the unanimous verdicts were delivered
Miss Moore said one victim had revealed that “it was a daily event”.
She added: “When he did these things he was a young and strong man.” Clarke was arrested after his two female victims walked into a police station in August last year.
He was found guilty of 12 charges of indecent assault and nine counts of indecency with a child relating to the two young girls following a two-week trial.
Speaking at Birmingham Crown Court earlier, the judge told Clarke he is likely to die in prison
Darron Whitehead, defending, said that Clarke will be 102 in March.
He added: “The reality is it will be a life sentence. He won’t be released.” Last night the NSPCC said the case showed: “Survivors of child sexual abuse will be listened to, no matter who – or how old – the abuser is, or how long ago it happened.”
Clarke will be sentenced on Monday.