RAY DOWNING BAKEDWELL PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON TEENAGE GIRL

In December 2003, Ray Downing, a 69-year-old resident of Bakewell, Derbyshire, was sentenced to eight months in prison after being found guilty of indecently assaulting a teenage girl with a mental age of just eight years old. The incident, which took place in September 2001, involved Downing befriending the 17-year-old girl and engaging in inappropriate physical contact, including being naked in her bedroom. Downing admitted to the court that he was attempting to teach the girl about sex, a claim that was met with skepticism by the judiciary.

During the proceedings at Derby Crown Court, Judge Peter Stretton delivered a stern verdict, condemning Downing's actions as a gross abuse of trust and authority. The judge stated, “You imposed yourself on an inadequate family and you used your dominance to behave in the way that has been described to me. That anyone could have believed that your behaviour was sexual education is beyond belief.” The court heard that Downing’s conduct was not only inappropriate but also deeply troubling, given the vulnerability of the victim.

At the time of sentencing, Downing collapsed in the dock, visibly distressed. The court also imposed an extended licence period of three years and four months, and he will be subject to the terms of the Sexual Offenders Act for a decade. Additionally, it was revealed that Downing faces fifteen other charges of indecent assault against five different women, which will remain on file and could potentially lead to further legal action.

His defence solicitor highlighted the emotional strain experienced by Downing’s family, particularly noting the long-standing suffering caused by his son Stephen Downing’s wrongful imprisonment. Stephen, who was convicted of murder in a case that involved the death of a woman in a Bakewell cemetery, was later exonerated in 2001 when his conviction was declared unsafe. Stephen, now 47, publicly expressed his disappointment over his father’s sentencing, stating, “I am saddened that the judge has decided to send my father to prison,” and reaffirmed his support for him despite the circumstances.

Overall, the case has cast a shadow over the community of Bakewell, raising concerns about safeguarding and the protection of vulnerable individuals from predatory behaviour. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such offences are treated, especially when committed by someone in a position of trust within the local community.