RALPH CLARKE, THE OLDEST BRITISH PAEDOPHILE, SENTENCED IN ERDINGTON AND BIRMINGHAM
| Red Rose Database
Erdington Child Sexual Abuser
In April 2017, Ralph Clarke, a man from Erdington, Birmingham, who gained notoriety as Britain’s oldest convicted paedophile, faced a significant legal setback when his appeal to reduce his 13-year prison sentence was denied by the Court of Appeal in London. Clarke, a former RAF serviceman residing on Holly Lane in Erdington, had been found guilty of committing 21 sex offences and had admitted to nine others during his trial in December of the previous year.
Clarke’s conviction stemmed from a series of heinous crimes committed against young children during the 1970s and 1980s. The jury at Birmingham Crown Court found him guilty of 17 offences of indecent assault, 11 counts of indecency with a child, and two attempted serious sexual assaults. The trial lasted two weeks, during which Clarke, who was 101 years old at the time, maintained his innocence on most counts, although he did admit to nine offences involving a male victim. The victims, now all in their forties, came forward after seeing Clarke’s 100th birthday celebration posted on Facebook, revealing that they had been abused in a workshop and inside the cab of his delivery lorry between 1974 and 1983.
Throughout the trial, special arrangements were made to accommodate Clarke’s advanced age and health. Court sessions were limited to the morning hours from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., allowing him to rest at home. He was permitted to sit at the back of the courtroom instead of in the dock, and due to his poor hearing, he communicated with his intermediary through loud speech. The judge, Richard Bond QC, emphasized that despite Clarke’s age and physical fragility, he showed no remorse for his actions, and his guilty pleas came late in the trial, which resulted in no credit being given for them. The judge also noted that Clarke’s defiant attitude and refusal to accept responsibility had contributed to the length of his sentence.
Following his conviction, Clarke was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with an additional two years on extended licence after his release. The court acknowledged the severity of his offences and the manipulative tactics he used to control his victims, including bribery with sweets and money, and even removing his false teeth before assaulting the children. The victims, who are now adults, described their trauma and the lasting impact of the abuse they endured.
In a statement, West Midlands police officer DC Emma Fennon described Clarke as “a hard man who had no feelings,” adding, “He’s never once said sorry. I’ve never in all of my service met anybody who has affected me like Mr Clarke has. The very way that he speaks about the offences. His lack of care. He doesn’t feel that he’s done anything wrong.”
Despite his age and health issues, the court made it clear that justice would be served, and Clarke was unlikely to be released from prison. The judge assured that any future complaints from victims, even those from the distant past, would be met with sympathy and compassion, reinforcing the message that justice remains a priority regardless of the passage of time.
Clarke’s case marked a significant moment in Britain’s legal history, as he replaced Gaston Pinsard as the oldest convicted paedophile in the country. Pinsard, who was jailed for 18 months in 2015 for indecent assaults committed in the 1950s and 1960s, was previously recognized as Britain’s oldest offender. Clarke’s conviction and sentencing highlighted the ongoing commitment of law enforcement and the judicial system to pursue justice for victims of sexual abuse, regardless of the offender’s age or physical condition.
Clarke’s conviction stemmed from a series of heinous crimes committed against young children during the 1970s and 1980s. The jury at Birmingham Crown Court found him guilty of 17 offences of indecent assault, 11 counts of indecency with a child, and two attempted serious sexual assaults. The trial lasted two weeks, during which Clarke, who was 101 years old at the time, maintained his innocence on most counts, although he did admit to nine offences involving a male victim. The victims, now all in their forties, came forward after seeing Clarke’s 100th birthday celebration posted on Facebook, revealing that they had been abused in a workshop and inside the cab of his delivery lorry between 1974 and 1983.
Throughout the trial, special arrangements were made to accommodate Clarke’s advanced age and health. Court sessions were limited to the morning hours from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., allowing him to rest at home. He was permitted to sit at the back of the courtroom instead of in the dock, and due to his poor hearing, he communicated with his intermediary through loud speech. The judge, Richard Bond QC, emphasized that despite Clarke’s age and physical fragility, he showed no remorse for his actions, and his guilty pleas came late in the trial, which resulted in no credit being given for them. The judge also noted that Clarke’s defiant attitude and refusal to accept responsibility had contributed to the length of his sentence.
Following his conviction, Clarke was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with an additional two years on extended licence after his release. The court acknowledged the severity of his offences and the manipulative tactics he used to control his victims, including bribery with sweets and money, and even removing his false teeth before assaulting the children. The victims, who are now adults, described their trauma and the lasting impact of the abuse they endured.
In a statement, West Midlands police officer DC Emma Fennon described Clarke as “a hard man who had no feelings,” adding, “He’s never once said sorry. I’ve never in all of my service met anybody who has affected me like Mr Clarke has. The very way that he speaks about the offences. His lack of care. He doesn’t feel that he’s done anything wrong.”
Despite his age and health issues, the court made it clear that justice would be served, and Clarke was unlikely to be released from prison. The judge assured that any future complaints from victims, even those from the distant past, would be met with sympathy and compassion, reinforcing the message that justice remains a priority regardless of the passage of time.
Clarke’s case marked a significant moment in Britain’s legal history, as he replaced Gaston Pinsard as the oldest convicted paedophile in the country. Pinsard, who was jailed for 18 months in 2015 for indecent assaults committed in the 1950s and 1960s, was previously recognized as Britain’s oldest offender. Clarke’s conviction and sentencing highlighted the ongoing commitment of law enforcement and the judicial system to pursue justice for victims of sexual abuse, regardless of the offender’s age or physical condition.