MAN JAILED FOR NON-RECENT INDECENT ASSAULT AGAINST CHILDREN
A man convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault against children has been sentenced to a 21-year prison term after a court hearing at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, 5 May.John Maddox, aged 83 (born 1 January 1943), from Farnham, was convicted of 20 offences involving seven victims aged between eight and 15 at the time.
The charges included 19 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted buggery, dating from 1972 to 2004.
The trial concluding in February 2026 found him guilty of these offences.
Prior to this trial, Maddox had admitted guilt to six indecent assault charges committed between 1982 and 1999.
These involved three victims aged nine to twelve, and the plea was entered on 7 June 2024.
The investigation was initiated in 2020 after two adults reported historic sexual abuse incidents that they experienced as children.
Maddox operated a dance school called ‘Gardenia School of Dance’.
Many of the offences involved contact with his victims through family connections or the dance school environment.
The offences took place at Maddox’s residence and involved both male and female children.
After further inquiries, police arrested Maddox at his home in September 2020.
During the subsequent search, various items were collected as evidence.
In his initial police interview, Maddox confessed to abusing several children.
As the investigation unfolded, additional victims were identified, leading to a second interview in June 2022, where Maddox made several further admissions but also denied certain allegations.
In November 2022, Maddox was arrested again in relation to new allegations.
During his third interview, conducted under caution, he responded with “no comment” to all questions.
He was formally charged via postal requisition in January 2024.
