ROY DARVILL FROM WALTHAMSTOW ADMITS TO 30 SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON YOUNG GIRLS IN BRITISH LEGION SCANDAL

In a disturbing revelation that has sent shockwaves through the community, Roy Darvill, a 79-year-old man from Walthamstow, has confessed to committing a series of heinous sexual assaults spanning over two decades. The former volunteer at the British Legion has admitted to a total of 30 charges of indecent assault, which he pleaded guilty to at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, November 14.

Darvill’s disturbing pattern of offending began in 1974 and continued at regular intervals until his final known attack in 1998. The victims ranged in age from as young as two years old to a 15-year-old girl, highlighting the disturbing breadth of his predatory behavior. One of the young girls involved in the case was reportedly just two years old at the time of her assault, underscoring the severity and depravity of his crimes.

During the court appearance, Darvill arrived riding a mobility scooter, dressed modestly, with a remembrance poppy pin attached to his clothing. Despite concerns related to his advanced age and health issues, the court made it clear that he faces a significant custodial sentence. Judge Sandy Canavan, who presided over the case, emphasized the gravity of the offences, stating, “You have pleaded guilty to incredibly serious offences. You should be under no illusion whatsoever—you are looking to receive a relatively long custodial sentence.”

It was also revealed that Darvill had served as the secretary of the Leyton branch of the Royal British Legion as recently as 2013, a position that once symbolized trust and community service but has now been overshadowed by his criminal actions. Currently, Darvill has been granted bail under strict conditions, including a prohibition on any contact with his victims until his sentencing hearing scheduled for December 14.

The case has left many in Walthamstow and the surrounding areas shaken, raising questions about safeguarding and the vetting processes within organizations like the British Legion. The community awaits the sentencing, which will determine the extent of justice for the victims and the repercussions for Darvill’s long history of abuse.