DAVID FLETCHER FROM SAFFRON WALDEN AND LITTLEPORT FACES DECADE IN THAI PRISON FOR RAPE

In a significant development in international criminal justice, David Fletcher, a 67-year-old man originally from Saffron Walden and Littleport, has been ordered to return to Cambodia to serve a ten-year prison sentence for serious sexual offenses. Fletcher, who has been residing in Thailand for the past three years, was on the run from justice when he was finally apprehended and is now set to face the consequences of his actions.

The case against Fletcher dates back to 2011 when he was convicted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, for the repeated rape of a 17-year-old girl. The conviction was handed down in his absence, as Fletcher had fled the country in 2010 to evade prosecution. Prior to the assaults, Fletcher had attempted to manipulate the victim by paying her impoverished mother £100 in a misguided effort to marry her. His flight to Thailand was an attempt to escape the legal repercussions of his crimes, but he was eventually detained there.

Following his arrest in Thailand, Fletcher faced extradition proceedings. A Thai court initially ordered his extradition to Cambodia in 2011, but Fletcher appealed this decision. The legal process culminated in a ruling by an Appeal Court judge in Bangkok, who determined that extraditing Fletcher would not violate his human rights. As a result, he is now mandated to return to Cambodia to serve his sentence.

Fletcher’s criminal history extends beyond the Cambodian case. Born in Littleport in 1946, he previously built a career running a series of hairdressing salons in Cambridge and Saffron Walden. His past convictions include a 1997 case at Norwich Crown Court, where he was found guilty of statutory rape involving a 15-year-old girl. Fletcher had initially enticed her with champagne, offered her £250 for sex, and filmed the assault. Additionally, he was found to possess offensive weapons, including two pepper sprays and two canisters of CS gas. Despite the severity of his crimes, he was sentenced to only eighteen months in prison.

Charity organizations such as Action Pour Les Enfants have highlighted Fletcher’s history of grooming children for sexual abuse, raising concerns about his predatory behavior and the potential danger he posed to vulnerable individuals. His extradition marks a significant step in ensuring justice is served for his victims and underscores the ongoing efforts to combat international sex crimes.