PATRICK SKERRITT OF QUINTON JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN WEST MIDLANDS

In March 2016, Patrick Skerritt, a man from Quinton, was sentenced to 28 months in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses dating back nearly 25 years. The crimes came to light when his former victim recognized him working in a children’s charity shop and contacted the police. Judge James Burbidge QC told Skerritt: "Your past has finally caught up with you, we have to be grateful for your victim having the courage to reveal what happened." The judge noted that Skerritt had groomed a 12-year-old boy who now suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, and depression as a result of the abuse. The incident was triggered when the victim saw Skerritt working in the shop, prompting him to report it to the authorities. The judge added, "You managed to keep your crimes a secret for many years." Skerritt, of Hagley Road, admitted three charges of indecent assault and was additionally subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, along with a requirement to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years. Prosecutor Tim Harrington highlighted Skerritt's prior convictions, which included a 1972 sexual assault and an incident in 2014 where he was sentenced to a Community Order for possessing indecent photographs of children. He emphasized the psychological harm caused to the victim and how seeing Skerritt working in the shop reopened emotional wounds. Defense lawyer Rashid Mohammed stated that Skerritt acknowledged the offenses, describing them as unpleasant but of short duration, expressing his remorse for the impact on the victim and recognizing the suffering caused.

In March 2014, Skerritt again appeared in court after being found with over 12,300 indecent images of children. Despite the severity of this discovery, he avoided jail when the judge decided that imprisonment would interfere with his opportunity for treatment, which could prevent future offending. The investigation was triggered when a 17-year-old visitor to Skerritt’s home saw the incriminating images on his computer. Prosecutor Mr. Paul Spratt explained that the teenager discovered the images after being left alone in the living room and reported this to police. Officers seized Skerritt’s computer and hard drive, uncovering 12,350 indecent images, including nearly 1,400 of the most serious categories. Mr. Spratt noted that these images were easily accessible on the computer. Skerritt, who was then living in Hagley Road, Edgbaston, but previously from Bache Street, West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of possessing indecent images. He had no prior convictions. The court ordered him to serve a three-year supervision period under a community order, during which he must adhere to strict restrictions on his living arrangements and complete the Community Sex Offender Programme. Judge Michael Dudley commented, "In many ways you deserve to go to prison, but it would not be for long enough to make any sense because you would not be able to complete this lengthy programme that is often successful. My concern is to pass a sentence that provides the best protection for the public against any future offending." Additionally, Skerritt was placed under a Sex Offenders Protection Order for 10 years and required to register on the Sex Offenders Register for five years due to the seriousness of his offenses.