ALAN PRIEST AND IAN PRESTLETON SENTENCED IN CRADLEY HEATH AND HALESOWEN CHILD ABUSE CASE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the Black Country community, a series of convictions have been handed down to individuals involved in the abuse and exploitation of a vulnerable teenage boy. The proceedings took place at Warwick Crown Court, where the court heard disturbing details about the abuse that spanned over several years, involving multiple offenders from the areas of Cradley Heath and Halesowen.

One of the most severe sentences was given to Alan Priest, a 63-year-old man from Haywood Bridge, who was found guilty of multiple counts of rape and sexual activity with a minor. The court established that Priest had committed these heinous acts during 2010 and 2011, exploiting a 14-year-old boy who had run away from a children’s home. The boy, who was described as a teenage runaway, was reportedly 'sold into prostitution' after fleeing the care system, a detail that underscores the gravity of the exploitation he endured.

Priest’s crimes were particularly egregious, as he carried out his sexual assaults within the confines of his caravan, a setting that allowed him to evade immediate detection. The court also revealed that Priest had previous convictions for sexually abusing teenage boys in 2004 and 2012, which contributed to his life sentence. The judge, Sylvia de Bertodano, ordered Priest to serve a minimum of seven years before he could seek parole, emphasizing the seriousness of his offenses and the need for public safety.

Adding to the disturbing nature of the case, Priest’s former partner, Ashley Sherrington, aged 24 and from Stoke-on-Trent, was convicted of rape related to the same case and received a nine-year prison sentence. The court highlighted the complex web of abuse and exploitation that involved multiple individuals from the local communities of Cradley Heath and Halesowen.

Another individual involved in the case was Ian Prestleton, a 54-year-old bus driver from High Haddon Road in Cradley Heath. Prestleton was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to three years in prison. His involvement was linked to the same network of abuse that targeted the vulnerable teenage boy after he was picked up at New Street station in Birmingham, following his escape from the care home.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano did not hold back in her criticism of the police investigation, condemning the authorities for failing to properly follow up on the victim’s initial complaints of abuse. She expressed her disappointment that the young victim’s early reports were not adequately investigated, which led to him being placed in a secure care home that he despised. The judge remarked on the tragic failure of the system to protect vulnerable children, stating, “These are tragic examples of how vulnerable children have been let down by the authorities over the years.”

The court’s verdict underscores the importance of accountability and the need for rigorous investigations into allegations of abuse, especially when children are involved. The sentences handed down reflect the severity of the crimes committed and serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding child exploitation and the responsibilities of law enforcement and social services to safeguard at-risk youth.