WILLIAM RICHARDS FROM BRIXTON AND EAST DULWICH SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS

In a case that has spanned nearly three decades, William Richards, aged 59, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for heinous acts of child abuse committed in south London. Richards, who resided in Brixton and East Dulwich, believed he had successfully evaded justice for his crimes until recent events brought his actions to light.

Between 1977 and 1983, Richards engaged in a disturbing pattern of grooming and abusing three young girls in Brixton. Over a period of six years, he systematically manipulated his victims, who were between the ages of three and eight at the time. His methods included forcing the children to watch pornography and exposing them to sketches of naked women he had drawn himself, creating a disturbing environment of exploitation before the sexual assaults occurred.

The abuse was frequent, occurring nearly on a weekly basis, and was characterized by a pattern of grooming that aimed to desensitize and manipulate the young victims. The court heard that Richards' actions only ceased when the victims moved away from the area, ending his cycle of abuse. Despite the severity of his crimes, Richards believed he had managed to escape detection for many years.

The case came to a turning point in 2010 when one of Richards' victims, now an adult, recognized him in the street. She confronted him physically, calling him a 'nonce,' and subsequently contacted the police. This brave act led to Richards' arrest and subsequent trial at Inner London Crown Court.

Judge Caroline Wright delivered a stern sentence, condemning Richards for his 'repugnant acts' against the three girls. She emphasized that the abuse was continuous and occurred with alarming frequency. The judge detailed how Richards had groomed his victims by making them watch pornography and look at his sketches of naked women, behaviors that preceded the sexual assaults and demonstrated a calculated pattern of manipulation.

During her sentencing remarks, Judge Wright expressed her disappointment that the victims' mother had not believed her daughter when she initially disclosed the abuse. She highlighted the long-lasting impact on the victims, who are now adults with children of their own. The judge noted how the abuse had caused them significant emotional distress, leading to obsessive behaviors aimed at protecting their own children.

Prosecutor Martin Pinfold pointed out that the effects of Richards' abuse continue to affect the victims, their partners, and their families. One of the victims had even moved to Canada to distance herself from Richards and the trauma associated with his actions.

Richards' defense attorney, Marcus Waite, argued that his client was a vulnerable man with physical and learning difficulties. He claimed that Richards posed little ongoing risk, noting that he had not offended in over thirty years and was only known to the police as a victim himself. Waite described Richards' life as largely decent, despite the serious allegations.

Richards, of 12 Monclar Street, East Dulwich, was convicted on April 25 of 12 counts, including indecent assault and gross indecency with a child. As part of his sentence, he will be required to sign the sex offenders register for life and is prohibited from having contact with any children under 16 without social services present for the next 15 years. This case underscores the importance of vigilance and the long arm of justice in addressing historical child abuse cases, no matter how much time has passed.