NORMAN SHEPHERD FROM POLING SENTENCED FOR ABUSING BOY IN WEST SUSSEX

In October 2014, a harrowing case of child abuse came to light involving Norman Shepherd, a retired dentist and former churchwarden from the village of Poling in West Sussex. The victim, now in his twenties, revealed that Shepherd had sexually assaulted him repeatedly from the age of five until he was twelve. The mother of the victim, who resides in an affluent area of the Home Counties, took extraordinary steps to ensure her son’s abuser was brought to justice.

Her determination was fueled by her son’s emotional breakdown when he confided in her about the abuse. Overcome with distress, she decided to act on her own initiative, despite police advice to avoid direct confrontation. She covertly recorded her conversation with Shepherd, who was a trusted family friend and a retired dentist, in which he admitted to the vile acts. This recording became a crucial piece of evidence in the case.

The mother recounted that her son, whom she described as an inspiring individual making a successful life for himself, had been deeply affected by the trauma. She explained that the moment her son broke down and disclosed the abuse, she felt as if her heart had been torn apart. Determined to seek justice, she contacted Shepherd and arranged a face-to-face meeting at his Grade-II listed home in Poling, West Sussex, the following day.

During the recorded phone call, the mother confronted Shepherd directly. She told him that her son had revealed the abuse and demanded his comments. Shepherd, maintaining a calm and matter-of-fact tone, initially tried to downplay their relationship, saying, “I’m not denying we were very close…” The mother insisted on a meeting, which was set for the next morning.

In the subsequent face-to-face encounter, the mother’s voice trembled with emotion as she pressed Shepherd about the extent of his misconduct. She accused him of abusing her son over many years, including instances where Shepherd allegedly entered her son’s bedroom while he was sleeping. Shepherd denied forcing the boy into any acts but admitted to being “too friendly” with him. He also claimed to have loved the boy, attempting to justify his actions by saying he had been abused himself as a child by a schoolmaster.

Shepherd’s wife was present during the meeting but was unaware of his criminal behavior. The mother’s accusations were supported by her son’s emotional testimony, which revealed the profound impact of the abuse. The mother emphasized that her son had kept the trauma bottled up for years, and she was determined to see Shepherd held accountable.

Following the confrontation, the mother reported the incident to the police. Despite police advice not to approach Shepherd directly, she chose to ignore it, believing it was necessary to gather evidence. Her decision proved pivotal, as she had recorded the entire conversation, capturing Shepherd’s admissions.

Shepherd was subsequently arrested and later admitted to abusing three other young boys. He pleaded guilty to a total of 27 counts, including 12 counts of indecent assault and two counts of attempted rape involving her son. The court proceedings culminated in Shepherd’s sentencing at Chichester Crown Court on May 9, where Judge Christopher Parker QC described Shepherd’s actions as a calculated grooming process driven by deviant lust. The judge sentenced Shepherd to nine years in prison, with eligibility for parole after that period.

Sussex Police confirmed that the recordings made by the mother formed part of the evidence against Shepherd. However, they clarified that this material was not presented in court as formal evidence, as Shepherd’s guilty plea meant the case did not proceed to trial. The case highlighted the importance of vigilant and proactive measures by victims and their families in exposing and prosecuting sexual abuse, especially when trust is betrayed by those in positions of authority and respect.