VERNON QUINTANCE FROM UPPER NORWOOD JAILED FOR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD BOYS IN LONDON AND SURROUNDINGS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Vernon Quaintance, a 71-year-old man from Upper Norwood, has been sentenced to prison for a series of heinous offenses involving young boys. The court heard how Quaintance, who was once a member of the Catholic society the Order of Malta, targeted vulnerable children over several decades, engaging in acts that have now led to his conviction.

Quaintance’s criminal activities spanned from the 1960s through the 1970s, during which he lured young boys into secluded areas under false pretenses. His methods included offering rides in the countryside, often in Surrey, where he would ask the boys to drop their trousers under the guise of inspecting whether they were circumcised. These encounters, which began when the victims were as young as ten, were driven by Quaintance’s disturbing obsession with circumcision, a fixation he claimed was rooted in his personal interest and beliefs about health and self-image.

The court revealed that Quaintance’s actions were not isolated incidents. He approached a boy in 1966, who was just ten years old at the time, while he was out knocking on doors for his Cubs group during a 'Bob a Job' charity event. The defendant, then in his twenties, invited the boy for a drive in Surrey, during which he initiated conversations about circumcision. When they reached a secluded spot, Quaintance asked the boy to show him his private parts to determine if he was circumcised. The boy, frightened and confused, refused, and Quaintance drove him home.

Further allegations detailed how Quaintance targeted other boys, including two at St Bartholomew’s Church in Clapham, south London, where he served as an altar server. He took an 11-year-old boy on a countryside drive, joking about circumcision and persuading him to expose himself. The boy was left deeply disturbed by the experience, which he remembered as a betrayal of trust that haunted him for years.

In addition to these incidents, Quaintance’s predatory behavior extended into his work as a BT engineer in the 1970s, where he lured two brothers, aged 12 and 10, to a photo studio and darkroom in London. He falsely claimed to be a member of a photography club, using this as a pretext to take the boys into the darkroom. Once there, he introduced the topic of circumcision and asked the boys to remove their trousers. The younger boy, initially compliant, became frightened when he saw Quaintance’s expression and refused to comply. His brother, also present, was so distressed by Quaintance’s sickening request that he went to the toilet and cried.

Investigations uncovered a vast archive of illicit images stored on Quaintance’s computer, including thousands of photographs depicting bloody and ritualistic circumcisions in the Brazilian rainforest. These images, which included material of a highly disturbing nature, were part of the evidence presented in court. It was also revealed that Quaintance was a leader of the Gilgal Society, a group claiming to promote male circumcision and its supposed health benefits. However, authorities found that the group was a front for distributing indecent images of young boys for erotic and paedophilic purposes. The biblical site Gilgal, in Jericho, and the Hebrew name Gibeath-haaraloth, meaning 'Hill of the Foreskins,' were used symbolically by the group.

Quaintance’s involvement with the church was also highlighted, as he served as a sacristan at the church within the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in north London, where the Order of Malta conducts their masses. Despite his religious roles, his criminal conduct cast a dark shadow over his reputation. In 2012, Quaintance was previously convicted of possessing nine hours of child pornography on videotapes, receiving a suspended sentence. However, with the emergence of new evidence and charges, he admitted to nine offenses earlier this year, including five counts of indecency with a child dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, and four counts of possession of indecent images.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC sentenced Quaintance to a total of two years and four months in prison. The sentence included 18 months for one count of indecency with a child, an additional 10 months for three other indecency charges, and a one-month sentence for possession of indecent photographs, all to run concurrently or consecutively as specified. An additional count of sexual assault on a child was left on file, indicating ongoing concerns about his conduct. The judge acknowledged Quaintance’s age and health but emphasized that his offending had ceased in later years, and he was given limited consideration for his age during sentencing.

Members of the community and authorities expressed their relief at the conviction, which brought to light the extent of Quaintance’s predatory behavior. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for institutions to act swiftly when concerns about individuals in positions of trust arise, especially when they involve vulnerable children. The court’s decision marks a significant step in addressing the long history of abuse committed by Vernon Quaintance, whose actions have left a lasting scar on his victims and the community at large.