ANTHONY AND MARGARET AKID FROM EAST DENE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE REVEALED AFTER 30 YEARS

An elderly couple from East Dene, Anthony Akid and Margaret Akid, have been sentenced by a court following the shocking revelation of their long-held secret involving child sex abuse spanning over three decades. The disturbing case came to light after the couple, who had been living together as friends, was forced to leave their home due to vigilante threats after photographs of them appeared in newspaper reports, exposing their dark past.

Anthony Akid, aged 56, was sentenced to a total of four and a half years in prison, while his ex-wife Margaret, aged 66, received a sentence of 12 months. The charges against them involved indecency with two girls, with the abuse dating back to the early 1970s, specifically between 1971 and 1977. The court heard that Anthony Akid, a former miner, paid at least one of the girls a small sum—10p or 20p—for sexual acts, highlighting the disturbing nature of the offenses.

The court proceedings revealed that the couple had been living quietly in East Dene until the allegations surfaced. The court was informed that after the photographs of the couple appeared in the media, vigilantes targeted them, prompting them to seek refuge at a secret address to escape the wrath of the community.

Judge Alan Goldsack addressed the court, emphasizing that while the law must condemn such acts, it also recognizes the emotional impact these crimes have on the victims and the community. He stated that the courts could not endorse individuals taking justice into their own hands, but understood the outrage and horror caused by the offenses.

The case was initially brought to public attention in April of the previous year, when the allegations were formally made. Both Anthony and Margaret pleaded guilty to two counts of gross indecency involving girls aged between 11 and 14, with the abuse occurring during the early to mid-1970s. The defense described the offenses as a “dark and grotesque secret,” underscoring the severity and the hidden nature of the crimes.

Anthony Akid, identified as the primary perpetrator, admitted to additional charges, including ten counts of indecent assault and indecency with a child. These charges also encompassed taking indecent photographs and engaging in simulated sexual acts. The prosecution argued that the abuse began when the victims were as young as ten years old, although Anthony claimed that the abuse started when the girls were around 13.

As the court proceedings concluded, the gravity of the crimes committed by the couple from East Dene was made clear, leaving a community shocked and a justice system that sought to deliver appropriate punishment for such heinous acts.