KEITH FIGES' SHOCKING CRIMES IN CHELTENHAM, GILLINGHAM, AND WARMINSTER REVEALED
In December 2014, Keith Figes, a 64-year-old man residing at Breach Close, Bourton, Gillingham, was convicted of possessing indecent photographs of children, specifically at a Grade C level.The authorities confirmed that Figes admitted to six separate charges related to this offense.
As part of his sentencing, he was subjected to a community order that mandated his participation in a sex offenders treatment program spanning 85 days.
Additionally, he was placed under supervision for a period of three years and ordered to pay costs amounting to £85.
A sexual offences prevention order was also issued against him, and he is required to register with the police for the next five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.
Figes's criminal history extends back to the late 20th century.
In May 2000, he was involved in a highly publicized case where he was accused of abusing pupils at a boarding school for boys with behavioral issues.
The incident took place at Badgeworth Court School, located near Cheltenham, during the years 1973 and 1974.
Figes, then a teacher, was charged with 12 counts of indecent assault against seven boys aged between 10 and 14.
The court proceedings revealed that Figes would lure boys from their dormitories into his room at night, where he committed these heinous acts.
At the time of the trial, Figes was living in Zeal’s Rise, Warminster, Wiltshire.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, after the court acknowledged that he had shown signs of reform since serving time in prison.
The court was visibly affected by the case, with several victims crying out and appearing shaken as Figes was released from court.
The prosecution, led by Roderick Denyer QC, detailed how Figes exploited his position of trust to commit these offenses.
Figes’s background includes a history of similar offenses, having been sentenced to three years in prison during the 1980s for related crimes.
His defense attorney, Wendy Joseph QC, argued that a significant amount of time had passed since the allegations, emphasizing that more than 30 years had elapsed since the incidents.
She highlighted that Figes had become a dedicated husband to his wife, Helen, and claimed that his time in prison had contributed to a change in his character.
She stated, “The passage of time since 1973-1974 is not far short of 30 years.
His behaviour in that time bears him some credit, perhaps more than anything else in his life.” Despite these arguments, victims who had attended the court proceedings expressed their dismay and frustration.
Some victims, watching from the public gallery, broke down in tears and voiced regret about speaking out.
One victim remarked, “I wish I hadn’t bothered speaking out about it,” while another simply called the sentence “a joke.” Judge Peter Thomas delivered the sentence, condemning Figes for his actions.
He stated, “You indecently assaulted seven boys who were residents at that school.
You betrayed their trust, and that trust which society placed on you.
They were in your care.
You have lived almost 20 years of a blameless life.
As long as you behave yourself you will hear no more about it.” The lead detective involved in the investigation expressed disappointment with the sentence, conveying sympathy for the victims.
He emphasized the severity of the offenses, describing them as “abhorrent,” and acknowledged the lasting impact on the men who suffered at Figes’s hands.
