KEVIN COPESTAKE SHOCKS NORTHWOLD AND KENT WITH 30-YEAR-OLD SEX OFFENCES IN SURREY AND TONBRIDGE

In a significant development that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Northwold, Surrey, and Tonbridge, Kevin Copestake, a 61-year-old man from High Street, Northwold, has been sentenced to serve five years in prison after admitting to a series of serious sexual offences committed over three decades ago. The crimes, which involved multiple victims and spanned different locations, were brought to light during a court hearing at Maidstone Crown Court, where Copestake faced justice for his past actions.

Copestake pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault involving a single boy at the Judd School in Tonbridge, Kent, as well as charges of indecency with a child and inciting a boy to watch a sexual act while at a school in Surrey. These admissions marked a significant turnaround from his previous denials, which had allowed him to evade justice for many years. The court heard detailed accounts of how Copestake, who was employed as a teacher during the time, had groomed and sexually abused young boys under his care.

Prosecutor Daniel Fugallo outlined the disturbing nature of the offences, revealing that Copestake, who taught History and Physical Education, had invited a boy to his flat in Tonbridge for extra tuition. During these visits, Copestake showed the boy pornographic magazines, and sexual acts were carried out when they bathed together. The victim felt powerless to resist, citing the influence of Copestake’s position as a teacher as a factor in his inability to refuse. The court was also told that another boy was similarly invited to Copestake’s residence, where he was shown pornography and encouraged to perform a sexual act on himself. Despite these incidents being reported to police at the time, no immediate action was taken, and Copestake was dismissed from his teaching role in 1982.

Further allegations emerged involving Copestake’s activities at a Surrey school, where he worked as a sports instructor and handyman. It was revealed that he had taken two boys aboard his houseboat in Chichester and persuaded them to perform sexual acts on themselves. Although one of the victims reported the incident, no prosecution followed at that time. It was only after a recent disclosure by the victim from The Judd School that police reopened the case and finally brought charges against Copestake.

During sentencing, Judge Michael Carol drew a stark comparison between Copestake’s initial denials and his eventual guilty plea, likening his case to that of BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall, who also initially denied allegations before admitting guilt and being jailed. The judge emphasized the profound breach of trust involved, stating, “Children you were there to look after and protect were abused by you. You thought you could get away with it and for many years you did. You lied your way out of your criminal behaviour.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Copestake was subjected to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which restricts his contact with children and requires his name to be entered onto the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. Furthermore, he was banned from working with children in any capacity, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the court’s commitment to protecting vulnerable young people from potential harm in the future.