TERENCE NEATHEY FROM LOWESTOFT AND TROSTON SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF CHILD ABUSE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Lowestoft and Troston, Terence Neathey, a former military chef, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of more than thirty years. The conviction follows a detailed trial at Ipswich Crown Court, where the court heard how Neathey, now aged 53, systematically abused three children, including two boys and a girl, on a total of 23 separate occasions.

Neathey’s criminal actions were particularly disturbing due to their prolonged nature and the vulnerability of his victims. Among the assaults, nineteen involved a boy aged between six and 15, with one of these incidents including an attempted rape. The remaining offenses involved a girl under the age of 10, with Neathey having indecently assaulted her on two occasions between 1980 and 1983. During these assaults, he manipulated the girl by asking her to sit on his lap before touching her inappropriately. These incidents occurred while she was staying with him and his wife at their military residence, after Neathey had been discharged from the armed forces in 1988 due to medical reasons.

Neathey, who resided on Livermere Road in Troston near Bury St Edmunds at the time of sentencing, denied the allegations, including claims that the girl had confronted him about the abuse in a Lowestoft café the previous year. The court also heard that two of the offenses involved a boy under the age of 10, with one of the victims being tied up and gagged using tights, a detail that underscored the severity of his crimes. There were even allegations that Neathey engaged in sexual activities with two of the boys simultaneously.

The crimes took place in the towns of Lowestoft and Barnham, with the female victim coming forward after one of the boys reported the abuse to police. Throughout the trial, Neathey maintained his innocence, claiming that the victims were lying. However, Judge David Goodin was unequivocal in his assessment, stating that two of the victims had been left deeply traumatized by Neathey’s actions. The judge emphasized the devastating impact on the victims, noting that one now struggles to form relationships due to the psychological scars inflicted by Neathey’s depraved conduct.

Judge Goodin described the offenses as a “more than a decade of wicked depravity,” highlighting the breadth and depth of Neathey’s misconduct. He sentenced Neathey to serve at least two-thirds of his 12-year term before being eligible for parole, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for justice for the victims. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who abuse positions of trust and authority, especially when they are supposed to be protectors and role models in the community.