KARL READER FROM HELSTON AND SWINDON SENTENCED FOR ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL AND BOY

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Helston and Swindon, Karl Reader, a 48-year-old man, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple heinous crimes involving a young girl and a teenage boy. The court proceedings revealed the disturbing details of Reader’s actions, which have left lasting scars on his victims.

According to the evidence presented at Truro Crown Court, Reader, who previously resided on Bulwark Road in Helston, committed a series of sexual offenses against a girl under the age of 13, starting from the year 2003. The girl, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was described as a small, innocent child who was too frightened to disclose her abuse for a long time. Her testimony painted a harrowing picture of her trauma and the profound impact of Reader’s depraved acts.

During the trial, the jury convicted Reader of five counts of rape related to this young girl. The court heard that Reader’s offenses against her spanned several years, and his actions were characterized by a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. In addition to the charges involving the girl, Reader was also convicted of multiple offenses related to a teenage boy, including sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual acts, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a minor. These incidents occurred in 2005 and 2006.

Prosecutor William Sellick detailed that Reader, who was living on Queens Avenue in Highworth, Swindon at the time, had engaged in manipulative and inappropriate conduct towards the boy. He reportedly told the boy that he was bisexual and sent him vulgar texts, which escalated to proposals of a threesome involving another boy. The prosecution further revealed that Reader offered the boy money to have sex with him and, on another occasion, inappropriately touched him by putting his hands inside the boy’s boxer shorts.

Reader’s defense attorney, Christopher Smyth, argued that his client was in poor health, having suffered two minor strokes in recent years. Smyth also highlighted that Reader had been volunteering at a charity market stall for the past three years, which had successfully raised £24,000 for a hospice. Despite these points, the court emphasized the severity of Reader’s crimes and the lasting damage inflicted upon his victims.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, delivered the sentence, expressing hope that the young girl would eventually find a way to move forward with her life. However, he acknowledged that the trauma caused by Reader’s actions would leave a “distressing scar” that she would carry forever. The judge condemned Reader’s conduct, stating, “Karl Reader, you have been a practising paedophile. The convictions brought in relatively swiftly by the jury reflect the depths of your evil depravity.”

He further explained that Reader had groomed the teenage boy by buying him presents and giving him money for small jobs, which contributed to his lack of self-confidence and difficulty forming long-term relationships. Regarding the girl, the judge stated, “You deprived her of her innocence; it was a despicable thing to do.”

As part of his sentence, Reader was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.