DAVID HOBDAY AND PAUL KIDD FROM DUKINFIELD AND STALYBRIDGE JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE

A disturbing case involving two men from the towns of Dukinfield and Stalybridge has culminated in their imprisonment for serious child abuse offences.

Paul Kidd, aged 55, a man with a history of working within the royal household, has been convicted of multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. Residing on Grasscroft Road, Kidd pleaded guilty to a total of 29 counts, which included indecent assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child, and the production and possession of indecent images of children. His crimes spanned several decades, with allegations dating back to the 1970s and extending into the 2000s.

Kidd’s sentencing was severe; he was handed an indeterminate sentence for public protection, with a minimum term of six years before he could be considered for parole. His criminal activities involved abusing three different boys over different periods, notably between 1974 and 1977, 1981 and 1983, and again from 2005 to 2008.

The former royal butler, who served as a senior footman to the Queen Mother from 1979 to 1984 and previously worked for the Queen herself starting in 1977, exploited his position of trust to carry out his heinous acts. Police described Kidd as a “brilliant groomer,” highlighting his manipulative tactics to gain the trust of his victims. In a shocking revelation, Kidd even took one of his victims for tea with the Queen Mother, an event that underscores the disturbing extent of his deception.

The investigation into Kidd’s activities was triggered when one of his victims, now in his 40s, came forward after reading an interview Kidd gave on the tenth anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. In that interview, Kidd boasted about his royal connections, which prompted the victim to recall the abuse he suffered as a young teenager. The victim recounted that Kidd had assaulted him at Kidd’s home in the early 1980s when he was just 13 years old.

Further evidence was uncovered during the investigation, including a large collection of indecent images on Kidd’s computer—specifically, 18,019 images of unknown children—and a video recording of Kidd abusing another young person as recently as 2006.

In addition to Kidd’s crimes, another man from Dukinfield, David Hobday, aged 57 and residing on St John Street, was also convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. Hobday pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of possessing an indecent image of a child. His involvement in the abuse was linked to Kidd’s most recent victim, whom Kidd had introduced to him. This victim was abused from the age of 14, with Kidd and Hobday allegedly engaging in sexual acts with him up to three times a week until Kidd’s arrest.

The case has shocked the local communities of Dukinfield and Stalybridge, revealing the dark underbelly of abuse that can occur even within seemingly respectable circles. Both men’s actions have been condemned, and their sentences serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from exploitation and harm.