RICHARD WEST CHARLTON SEX OFFENDER DIES IN WINCHESTER HOSPITAL AFTER JAIL SENTENCE

In January 2017, an inquest was initiated to investigate the death of Richard West, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses against children. West, a former Royal Air Force officer, passed away at the age of 74 in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital located in Winchester. His death occurred approximately six months after he was sentenced to serve five and a half years in prison for his crimes.

West’s legal troubles stemmed from allegations dating back to the 1970s, involving two young girls. During a trial held in November 2015, a jury found him guilty of six counts of historic indecent assault related to one of the victims. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on five additional charges concerning the second girl. The complexity of his case was compounded by his deteriorating health, which delayed sentencing for seven months after the verdict.

At the time of sentencing, West appeared in Salisbury Crown Court, where he was transported in a wheelchair due to his health issues. His defense attorney, Mr. Cotter, emphasized West’s frail condition, noting that he was housebound, could only walk a few feet, and was considered to be at the end of his life. Despite these circumstances, Judge Andrew Barnett sentenced West to more than five years in prison, acknowledging the profound and lasting impact his actions had on his victims. The judge remarked on the “devastating effect” of West’s crimes and emphasized that the damage inflicted could not be overlooked.

Prior to his sentencing, West faced a total of 11 charges of sexual offenses from the 1970s. The jury’s inability to reach a verdict on five of these charges related to a second victim left some aspects of the case unresolved. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, expressed her suffering publicly, describing how the abuse had destroyed her childhood and continued to haunt her into her adult years. She recounted her struggles with mental health, including multiple suicide attempts and years of therapy, as she tried to come to terms with her past.

In her emotional statement, she revealed that her life had been profoundly affected, including her relationship with her husband and her experience of motherhood. She shared that she felt she had lost precious time with her children and that her past had cast a shadow over her happiness. She credited her husband with saving her life, stating that without his support, she might not have survived. Despite West’s conviction, she noted that the pain and trauma persisted, and the verdict did not erase the damage done.

As of the time of this report, Richard West’s death was officially recorded, and the inquest into his passing remains open. The proceedings have been adjourned until June 12 at Winchester Coroner’s Court, where further details about his death and the circumstances surrounding it are expected to be examined.