DAVID CANDLISH: COVENTRY PREDATOR'S 20-YEAR DARK SECRET REVEALED

In a harrowing case that has shocked the Coventry community, David Philip Candlish, a 52-year-old man from Middlecotes, Tile Hill South, has been convicted of a prolonged and systematic campaign of abuse against young boys spanning over two decades. The severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to society were underscored during his sentencing at Coventry Crown Court.

Judge Marten Coates described the case as one of the most severe he had encountered, emphasizing the profound impact of Candlish’s actions. The court heard that Candlish had admitted to 12 counts of indecent assault involving boys, aged six, nine, 10, and 13 at the time of the abuse, as well as four charges related to the possession and creation of indecent photographs and video recordings of his victims.

The court was informed that Candlish had ingrained himself into the lives of four young boys, exploiting their trust and innocence. Prosecutor John Price detailed how Candlish would befriend the boys, often giving them treats and introducing them to pornographic magazines, thereby grooming them for abuse. Some of these assaults occurred almost daily, with Candlish taking the boys into the countryside to carry out indecent acts, further isolating and manipulating his victims.

One victim’s testimony revealed that Candlish’s influence was so profound that even after his mother grew suspicious and ceased the visits, the boy continued to seek out Candlish’s company. Another victim recounted how his parents believed Candlish to be a kind and caring individual because of how well he treated their son, leaving the boy unable to disclose the truth about the abuse he endured.

Police investigations into the allegations led to a search of Candlish’s residence, where authorities discovered approximately ten hours of videotapes. These recordings depicted some of his victims along with two unidentified boys engaged in acts of gross indecency, highlighting the extent of Candlish’s depravity.

It was also revealed that Candlish had a prior history of abuse, having been placed on probation in the 1970s for an earlier offense. His defense attorney, Richard Griffiths-Jones, argued that Candlish lacked close relationships and suffered from sexual problems, claiming that the abuse was an outlet for his issues. He described Candlish as a man who, despite his dark secret, was otherwise stable and law-abiding.

However, the court was presented with a report characterizing Candlish as a “predatory paedophile” who had long been attracted to boys. Judge Coates condemned Candlish’s actions, stating, “You would treat them and introduce them to pornography and teach them your sexual perversions. I am told that they wanted to resist your advances but you would not let them. For a long time, they had to conceal what you were doing from their parents. It brings upon them shame and embarrassment.”

As a result of his crimes, Candlish was sentenced to eight years in prison for the indecent assaults, with an additional three-year sentence to run concurrently for the video recordings of the abuse. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from further harm.