KENNETH HUXTABLE OF NUNEATON SENTENCED FOR REPEATED SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS

In June 2008, a man from Nuneaton named Kenneth Huxtable was sentenced to prison after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving two young girls he met through his hobby of wargaming. A judge at Warwick Crown Court declared that Huxtable posed a significant danger to children, citing his 'distorted thought processes' regarding young girls and noting his ongoing denial of the offences.

The 54-year-old, residing on Aviemore Close in Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to six counts of raping an 11-year-old girl in 2003, and a further six charges of raping a second girl when she was also 11. Judge Christopher Hodson sentenced Huxtable to an indefinite term for public protection, with a minimum of five and a half years before he could be considered for parole. Additionally, Huxtable was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was prohibited from working with children in any capacity, whether paid or voluntary.

Prosecutor Simon Ward explained that Huxtable’s hobby involved playing with model soldiers through war games. He offered to teach his victims how to paint these figures, a chance he exploited while their parents were not present. It was during these times that Huxtable repeatedly assaulted the girls—his first victim in 2003, and the second more recently. The crimes were uncovered when the second girl became upset during a sex education lesson and confided in a friend, who then informed a teacher.

Following the disclosure, Huxtable attempted to avoid consequences by leaving a note for his wife and taking an overdose of pills. It was revealed that he had previously engaged in emotional blackmail of the girls, threatening them with harm to prevent disclosure of his actions.

The second girl told police she did not consent to the acts, having 'just let him' on one occasion when she performed oral sex, and expressing that she had not wanted to have intercourse but had not resisted. The first victim described Huxtable as being 'like a monster,' detailing how he touched her under and over her clothing before engaging in unprotected intercourse.

During a police interview following his arrest, Huxtable admitted to performing these acts but minimized the number of incidents and claimed he 'did not see any harm in it,' according to Mr. Ward. A pre-sentence report indicated that Huxtable, whose family had distanced themselves from him, was in denial about the extent of his offending.

Judge Hodson, addressing Huxtable directly, stated: 'By committing your offences you were betraying the trust they and their parents placed in you. You were alone in their presence because you were supposed to be teaching them skills in model painting, and your emotional blackmail kept their silence. It is plain you do not see any harm in having sex with an 11-year-old girl, and you said (one of the girls) in particular wanted it to happen.'