ANTONY FOXLEY OF STAPELEY AND CREWE CONVICTED AGAIN FOR CHILD MOLESTATION AT STAPELEY WATER GARDENS

In a disturbing development, Antony Foxley, a former security guard at Stapeley Water Gardens near Nantwich, has been found guilty once more of sexually abusing a young boy. The recent court proceedings took place at Chester Crown Court, where Foxley admitted to molesting a 14-year-old boy during the years 1987 to 1989. The abuse reportedly occurred within a maisonette that Foxley had access to through his employment at the water gardens, a popular tourist attraction in the Crewe and Stapeley area.

Foxley's criminal history is extensive, with previous convictions dating back to 2010. In that year, he was convicted of similar offenses and subsequently appealed. His wife, through the Chronicle, called on others who might have been victims or witnesses to come forward, highlighting the ongoing concern surrounding his actions. When he appeared before the court last year, Foxley listed his address as Crewe Road, Crewe.

Prior to this recent conviction, Foxley had already served a nine-month prison sentence for two counts of indecent assault committed against a 14-year-old boy between 1991 and 1992. Additionally, he had been given a two-year community rehabilitation order after admitting to indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy between May and December 2001. These convictions underscore a pattern of predatory behavior spanning over a decade.

In February 2010, Foxley's misconduct was further highlighted when he was jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. At that time, he was employed at Stapeley Water Gardens, where he had worked for three decades. Foxley resided on-site at the tourist attraction near Nantwich, and it was during this period that he committed two indecent assaults at the garden centre’s private swimming pool in 1991 and 1992, when his victim was just 14 years old.

The court heard that Foxley, then aged 47, had built a close relationship with the young boy, inviting him to his accommodation, which featured exclusive access to a private swimming pool. Prosecutor Jackie Lamb explained that the two incidents occurred in the swimming pool area, and after the second assault, the victim severed contact with Foxley. The young boy later described feeling 'confused, embarrassed and scared' about the incidents, and he chose not to disclose what had happened immediately. Instead, he endured ongoing emotional distress, describing his experience as a 'world of torture.'

The victim eventually reported the assaults to the police after visiting Stapeley Water Gardens in November, where he overheard Foxley's name mentioned, triggering painful memories. Foxley's defense attorney, Patrick Thompson, expressed remorse on his behalf, emphasizing that Foxley was 'desperately sorry' for his actions. Thompson highlighted Foxley's long-standing employment at the water gardens, where he was a departmental manager, and noted that Foxley had resigned from his position, which he described as a significant blow to his reputation and career.

Judge Ian Trigger sentenced Foxley to nine months in prison, but he did not see the need for a sexual offences prevention order. In his remarks, the judge acknowledged the tragic impact of Foxley's actions on the victim, his family, and Foxley himself. He described Foxley's grooming of the young boy, facilitated by the boy’s excitement at using the swimming pool and visiting Foxley's home, as a serious breach of trust that caused lasting psychological harm. The judge also noted Foxley's previous good character and the fact that his resignation from his job marked a significant personal downfall. He emphasized that prison would serve as a necessary and impactful consequence of Foxley's misconduct.

Following the court's decision, a spokesperson for Stapeley Water Gardens confirmed that Foxley's employment was terminated immediately after his resignation on January 3. The company assured the public that allegations of this nature are taken very seriously and handled with strict confidentiality. The incident has cast a shadow over the reputation of the water gardens, which has been a popular destination for families and tourists in the Crewe and Nantwich area for many years.