VETERAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR PAEDOPHILIA
An 89-year-old ex-RAF mechanic, who previously worked on radar systems during the Cold War era, has been revealed as a paedophile responsible for abusing young girls.Geoffrey Nurthen, once a respected military veteran with 15 years of service at a time when Britain was concerned about a Soviet nuclear threat, was convicted of four counts of indecent assault following a trial earlier this year, which has severely damaged his reputation.
On Wednesday (June 25), Croydon Crown Court heard how two victims recounted how their lives were devastated by Nurthen’s actions, with one victim even attempting suicide.
Prosecutor William Tatford KC described how Nurthen would assault the girls and insisted “no, you will enjoy it,” even when victims asked him to stop.
When victims expressed pain, Nurthen allegedly told them to relax, claiming it would not hurt.
In the 1990s, as adults, the victims tried to report Nurthen’s misconduct, but he denied the allegations.
He was ultimately brought to court in 2023, charged with nine offences.
Although he denied all charges, the jury acquitted him of five counts but convicted him on four, including multiple incidents amounting to over 30 offences.
It took more than fifty years for Nurthen to finally be sentenced to 12 years in prison, but one victim described the effects of his abuse as a “life sentence.” She testified via a screen that his abuse was “deliberate and manipulative over years” to satisfy his own needs, leaving her unable to sleep without a light on and plagued by nightmares of Nurthen’s “coming to get me.” She explained that without the birth of her children, she might have taken her own life.
“Sometimes I feel like I am rotting from the inside out,” she said.
Reflecting on her younger self, she said she was “abandoned by those who were supposed to care for her,” and noted that giving evidence during the trial was “the worst I have ever felt.” She emphasised that the damage inflicted was ongoing, stating “what he did is a life sentence,” and that he changed her life from a very young age.
The second victim also spoke about how her life “stopped” when the abuse began, leading to nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks.
In her statement, she described trembling uncontrollably, crying without reason, binge eating, and being sick, as well as engaging in excessive exercise.
Her mental health deteriorated so severely that when she attempted suicide as an adult, it caused medical complications requiring her to relearn basic skills like walking and talking.
Nurthen’s defense solicitor, Charlotte Newell KC, portrayed him as a “pioneer” in his field, highlighting his early career as a mechanic in the RAF from age 15.
He travelled to America to attend a NATO anniversary with the famous Dambusters 617 Squadron, known for daring World War II bombing raids, and worked in Canada and Singapore developing radar warning systems.
Nurthen, who sported an Avro Vulcan bomber pin on his jacket, also held positions at the Civil Aviation Authority in Ireland, Rolls Royce, and later in telecoms firm ITT, which rebranded to Alcatel.
In later life, he built computer systems for commercial unions and worked as a consultant into retirement to support his wife, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and died in 2009.
Following her death, Newell stated Nurthen lived a “quiet and civil life,” though his social circle shrank as friends also passed away.
Judge Anthony Dunne sentenced Nurthen within the constraints of the law at the time, which capped maximum imprisonment at five years for indecent assault.
Had current legislation applied, Nurthen could have faced up to 15 years per offence.
Despite limited mitigation regarding his age and good character, Dunne handed down four-year sentences for each of the multiple incident counts, along with two-year terms for single offences.
The judge also mandated a four-year special license period, meaning Nurthen will serve at least eight years before parole eligibility, plus an additional four years once the license period concludes.
He is now classified as a registered sex offender, requiring him to report his whereabouts to authorities.
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