CECIL CLARKE AND WILLIAM HILL: SHOCKING CRIME SPREE IN LEDBURY AND STOKE LACY

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Ledbury and Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, two relatives of notorious serial killer Fred West have been linked to serious criminal offenses involving sexual assault and abuse. The case centers around Cecil Clarke, also known as William Hill, whose actions have brought to light a troubling pattern of predatory behavior within this family network.

In the summer of 1997, Cecil Stephen John Clarke, aged 38 and residing in Stoke Lacy near Bromyard, was accused of attempting to sexually assault a 13-year-old girl at his home. The incident was brought to court, and after a trial that lasted just over three hours, a jury composed of five men and seven women unanimously found Clarke guilty of attempted rape. Although he was acquitted of the actual act of rape, the court found sufficient evidence to conclude that Clarke had engaged in grooming the young girl, who is now 15, with the intent to seduce her.

Judge Michael Mott sentenced Clarke to four years in prison for the attempted rape. Additionally, he ordered Clarke to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. The judge emphasized that Clarke’s actions were premeditated, aimed at seducing the minor, and that the trust placed in him by the girl’s parents was tragically exploited. The prosecution, led by Patrick Thomas, detailed how Clarke had assaulted the girl in his bed and then threatened her with death if she disclosed the incident.

Further evidence revealed that Clarke had groomed the victim by providing her with alcohol and cigarettes, and that she had been exposed to pornographic videos in the weeks leading up to the attempted assault. Among these was a disturbing recording of a TV program titled 'No Child Of Mine,' which dealt with sexual abuse. The court heard that Clarke had previously served a 12-month sentence in 1990 for a six-year period of abuse against a girl aged between nine and 15.

Defense attorney John Dixon argued that Clarke had faced numerous hardships in life, which may have contributed to his criminal behavior. Despite this, the court’s verdict reflected the severity of his actions and the betrayal of trust involved.

Adding to the grim picture, Clarke’s half-brother, William John Hill, of Near Green Close, near Ledbury, was also convicted of serious sexual offenses. In May, Hill, aged 45 and unemployed, was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court of raping a teenage girl and indecently assaulting two others. His crimes, committed in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Much Marcle, Herefordshire, involved multiple victims and a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years.

Hill’s criminal record and the nature of his offenses have further tarnished the reputation of this family, which has long been associated with dark and troubling histories. The community in Ledbury and Stoke Lacy now grapples with the reality of these revelations, which underscore the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable individuals from harm.