February 2015

Leicester man, 71, jailed for sexual offences against four young schoolboys

A 71-year-old man has been jailed for 18 years for committing sexual offences against four boys.

Michael Sharman, of Harrowden Court, Rowlatts Hill, Leicester, was found guilty of buggery, attempted buggery and indecent assault after a trial in December last year.

He was sentenced today at Leicester Crown Court.

In August 2012, a man disclosed to police he was sexually assaulted by Sharman when he was a child.

Following police investigations, a further three men were identified as potential victims of Sharman’s abuse and later gave individual accounts of the abuse they suffered.

At the time of the offences, they were aged between nine and 15 years old.

Sharman was later arrested and charged with the offences, which happened between 1987 and 1994.

As well as being jailed today, Sharman was also issued with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

After the case, Detective Constable Gareth Gimson, the investigating officer, said: “The victims have showed immense bravery in reliving the details of their abuse and supporting the investigation throughout.

“We would like to assure victims of non-recent sexual abuse that police will thoroughly investigate their reports with a view to prosecuting the offender and support the victim throughout the investigation. We will also ensure that the victim is referred to relevant agencies that can assist the victim both practically and emotionally.”

December 2014

Leicester foster parent found guilty of abusing young boys in his care

A foster parent who sexually abused four boys in his care was labelled a “sexual predator” and told to expect a long jail sentence.

Michael John Sharman (71) was convicted by a jury of a catalogue of 15 sex offences, some committed more than two decades ago, against four youngsters who were among dozens of children whose wellbeing he was entrusted with by the authorities.

Sharman crept into the vulnerable victims’ bedrooms at night or cornered them in a bathroom.

He told one scared child: “Let’s have some fun.”

Married Sharman, who denied any wrongdoing, claimed he had properly cared for “lots of children” over many years and accused the four victims of fabricating allegations of sexual abuse to get compensation.

Sharman, of Rowlatts Hill, Leicester, was remanded into custody to await sentencing in February.

After the verdicts at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Simon Hammond said: “You’ve been rightly convicted of very serious sexual offences against four young lads who were in your care as a foster parent.

“What you did to one particular boy was horrendous.

“The legacy is this sort of abuse is always very grave.

“It affects intimate relationships, trust, can cause self-harming and all sorts of dreadful things.

“The courts have a duty to protect vulnerable people from sexual predators like you.

“I’ll be considering a very lengthy sentence in your case to reflect the gravity.

“These were wicked offences.

“The boys were in your care as a foster parent and you abused that position.”

Sharman was convicted of five counts of indecent assault, one gross indecency, an attempted buggery and three offences of buggery on one boy. He was convicted of one count each of indecent assault against two boys and three offences of indecent assault on a fourth boy.

The crimes were committed on various dates between 1987 and 1994.

The boys were aged between nine and 15 years old.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said during the trial: “One complainant wasn’t able to report the abuse until 2012, after he’d found it increasingly difficult to cope.

“He was drinking excessively, taking drugs, often leaving home for days.

“When his partner confronted him he broke down and made an emotional revelation about the abuse he’d suffered.”

After the verdicts, officer in the case Det Con Gareth Gimson said: “We’re pleased with the verdicts for the victims who’ve had the courage to come forward after so many years.”