NIGEL MAY FROM LOOE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE CASE IN WARWICKSHIRE

In a case that has spanned decades and involved serious allegations of sexual misconduct, Nigel May, a 59-year-old man from Chapel Row, Widegates, Looe, was found guilty of multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of young children in the early 1970s. Despite the gravity of the accusations, May was not sentenced to immediate imprisonment, primarily due to his severe health issues, which include a serious heart condition, diabetes, obesity, depression, and gout.

May faced six charges of indecently assaulting a boy aged six or seven, as well as one charge of indecently assaulting a seven-year-old girl. The case was brought to trial at Warwick Crown Court, where a jury deliberated for just over an hour before returning a guilty verdict on all seven counts. The swift decision underscored the strength of the evidence against him.

Following the verdict, a pre-sentence hearing was held to assess May’s health and consider appropriate sentencing. The court then proceeded to Coventry Crown Court last week, where May was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. The judge acknowledged the seriousness of the crimes but also took into account May’s health condition in determining the sentence.

Prosecutor Heidi Kubik provided detailed testimony about May’s conduct during the period when he resided with his parents at their home on Ashford Gardens in Whitnash, Warwickshire. She explained that May would often take advantage of moments when he was alone with the young boy, touching him inappropriately and even encouraging the child to touch him. The young victim, who was very young at the time, did not disclose the abuse immediately, feeling shame and confusion. As he grew older, these traumatic experiences adversely affected his ability to form relationships, including romantic ones. The victim eventually sought help from his general practitioner in 2000, breaking down and revealing the abuse he endured as a child.

In a further disturbing revelation, the prosecution highlighted that May was involved in another inappropriate incident involving a young girl. During the mid-1970s, May stayed overnight at the girl’s parents’ house. While the girl was sleeping downstairs, May was found sitting by her, holding her hand and attempting to coax her into touching him. The girl woke up, ran upstairs, and confided in her mother, who confronted May and asked him to leave the house in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, this incident was not reported or acted upon at the time, and it only came to light during the police investigation that followed the initial complaint.

May denied any wrongdoing during his trial, asserting that he had not behaved inappropriately towards the boy or stayed at the girl’s home. His denial persisted even during a subsequent hearing when he spoke with a probation officer. His defense lawyer, Edward Bailey, acknowledged May’s health issues and argued for a suspended sentence, emphasizing that May’s medical conditions posed a substantial risk of imprisonment. Bailey described May as leading a lonely and sad life, having given up his active involvement in the local gardening club due to the case.

Judge Marten Coates, presiding over the case, remarked that the offenses, which occurred more than 30 years ago, were not among the most severe. He noted that May had been fortunate in avoiding immediate imprisonment, attributing this to his poor health and the age of the offenses. The judge emphasized that the indecency was not at the most serious end of the scale but made it clear that the court took the allegations seriously, despite the passage of time.