KEITH RUBY FROM BIDDISHAM AND WINSCOMBE JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN BRISTOL AND NEARBY AREAS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Biddisham and Winscombe, Keith Ruby, a former teacher and rugby coach, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a teenage boy. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of exploitation that spanned several years, involving trust and manipulation within the local area.

Ruby, aged 36 at the time of sentencing, was convicted of 16 separate sexual offenses following a jury trial held in December. The allegations detailed a disturbing timeline of abuse that began when the victim was just 12 years old, shortly after Ruby had started working at the prestigious Sidcot School near Winscombe in 2004. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was a talented young rugby player with promising potential, and it was during this period that Ruby’s inappropriate relationship with him began to develop.

The abuse was reportedly triggered when the victim confided in Ruby about his realization that he was gay. Ruby, who was in a position of trust, began to question him about his sexuality, which eventually led to physical molestation. The assaults started when the victim was 14 years old and continued for approximately a year. These acts took place during massage sessions at the victim’s home, in the changing rooms of rugby clubs in Weston and Winscombe, and even during an overseas rugby trip, further complicating the case and highlighting the extent of Ruby’s manipulative behavior.

Investigations into the allegations began in February 2006 after the victim’s family came forward. However, the initial police inquiry was halted in July of the same year, leaving the case unresolved for several years. It was only in 2011, when the victim disclosed the full extent of the abuse to his parents, that a renewed investigation was launched. Throughout the trial, Ruby maintained his innocence, denying all 20 allegations brought against him. Despite his denials, the jury at Taunton found him guilty on December 6 of 11 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and five counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.

He was acquitted of two counts related to causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13. The court also imposed strict measures to prevent future offenses, including a sexual offences prevention order, lifelong registration on the sex offenders register, and a ban from working with children. Ruby’s residence on Biddisham Lane in Biddisham was noted, and his position within the community has been deeply affected by the case. The court’s restrictions aim to safeguard other children from potential harm, reflecting the severity of the crimes committed by Ruby in the Bristol and surrounding areas.