August 2005

Eight life terms for paedophile

A judged has handed down eight life sentences to a serial paedophile from the West Midlands.

John Brady, 56, from Merry Hill, Wolverhampton, admitted a string of sex attacks on young children when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He also admitted taking part in the making of an indecent film.

Sentencing him on Monday, Judge Frank Chapman said Brady was a “major threat to children” and that there was a “real risk he would offend again”.

The court had heard Brady was the ringleader of a group of paedophiles who abused two young girls.

One of Brady’s victims was bound, gagged and chained to a doorway.

Other members included Paul Harrison, 36, from Stourbridge, who was jailed for eight years after admitting cruelty to a child and indecent assault.

Also involved were Alan Tunney, 64, and 63-year-old John Hatch – both from Sandbach in Cheshire – who were recently jailed for eight and 12 years respectively, on charges of indecent assault and rape.

The judge described the case as the “worst” in his career.

August 2005

Paedos filmed rapes of children

POLICE have moved to calm fears after the conviction of two South Cheshire paedophiles for the systematic sexual abuse of two young girls.

Allan Tunney, 64, of Elworth Road, Sandbach, was jailed for eight years and John Hatch, was sentenced to 12 years. Both pleaded guilty to a string of sex attacks on their victims.

Hatch, 63, told Wolverhampton Crown Court he had no fixed address, but was said to have lived in Sandbach. He a history of sex crimes against children.

Judge Frank Chapman described the case as the worst he had heard in his career.

Tunney was convicted on charges involving rape, indecent assault and taking part in the making of an indecent video.

Hatch was convicted on charges involving rape and indecent assault.

The men were members of a paedophile ring run by 56-year-old John Brady, of Wolverhampton. who has been given eight life sentences for his part in the grooming of two victims

The court heard how Brady made extensive recordings of himself abusing the girls and also filmed other men assaulting and raping them.

A fourth man, Paul Harrison of Stourbridge, West Midlands, was jailed for eight years for indecent assault and cruelty to a child.

He from West Midlands Police has headed the long running investigation.

DI Salt said a man’s house, in Wolverhampton, was searched and child porn was found. He added: ‘The children and further offenders were identified, leading police to the four man enterprise, and the two girls who had been systematically sexually abused.’

Judge Chapman told the men they had treated one young girl like a sex toy and branded them ‘dangerous paedophiles’.

In sentencing he described their behaviour as ‘so grave it would disgust any right-thinking person’.

The case has struck fear into parents in Sandbach and Wolverhampton. However, DI Salt has spoken out to reassure the community that youngsters are safe.

He said: ‘The whole investigation has been intense and thorough.

‘These girls were known to one or more of the four men and I am happy to reassure people in Sandbach and Wolverhampton that there was never, and is no risk, to other young children in the localities.

‘These men are now in prison and will remain there for a very long time.’