‘Predatory’ paedophile has appeal rejected
A former leisure centre lifeguard and Scout leader who was caged for the sickening sexual abuse of a father and son decades apart has failed in an appeal against his 14-year prison sentence.
A senior judge said Robert James Major, 63, of The Willows, off Steppingstone Place, Leighton Buzzard, had acted like a “predatory paedophile of the worst sort” and deserved everything he got.
Major, whose crimes began in the 1970s, was convicted at Aylesbury Crown Court last June of 12 indecent assaults, four gross indecency offences and a serious sex assault.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal heard of the grave effect that the abuse had had on his father-and-son victims - who Major had not realised were related.
“This is a case which has had devastating consequences for the family,” said Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart. “There is a harrowing victim personal statement from the mother, which describes her husband as completely broken by the events.”
The father was abused while Major was working at Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre in Linslade in the 1970s and 1980s.
He was subjected to regular sex attacks.
The crimes were not reported and years later and completely by chance, Major began a series of offences against the man’s young son.
The sentencing judge said Major, a father-of-two who was a Scout leader in Leighton from the 1960s to the 1980s, had “preyed on adolescents” and, although the son had consented to most of what was done, that did not help Major because the boy was underage.
His lawyers argued before the appeal judge, sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Sir Geoffrey Grigson, that 14 years was too long a sentence.
Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart said: “The appellant acted like a predatory paedophile of the worst sort, grooming and abusing these young boys for his own gratification.
“There is no doubt, in our judgment, that a long sentence was called for and, in all the circumstances, we don’t consider that this sentence was manifestly excessive.”
The appeal was dismissed.
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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