2015: STEPDAD JAILED FOR BEATING CHILDREN IN 1960S AND 70S: 'IT WENT FAR BEYOND ANYTHING THAT CAN BE REGARDED AS JUSTIFIABLE — EVEN IN TIMES GONE BY'
A stepfather who consistently assaulted two young children and created a frightening upbringing has been sentenced to prison.William Taylor was responsible for beating Peter and Vanda Wilkins during the 1960s and 1970s, from when they were approximately four years old until their mid-teens.
Now in their fifties, the siblings only chose to pursue legal action after hearing about the police investigations into former TV presenter Jimmy Savile, though Taylor was not charged with any sexual crimes.
The court heard that the children’s upbringing was marked by a pervasive fear, with frequent assaults and humiliations carried out unjustifiably.
Mr.
Wilkins, who lived on Lightbounds Road in Johnson Fold, remembered being punched, kicked in his throat, and poked in the eye.
He described a moment when Taylor stood on his stomach, applying his weight heavily, and another when Taylor threw him onto a couch, causing shoulder pain so intense he couldn’t remove his shirt.
Taylor initially summoned an ambulance but threatened to kill Mr.
Wilkins if he revealed what caused the injury.
At 15, Mr.
Wilkins tried to flee; police found him, and Taylor punched him right in front of officers who did not react.
His sister recounted similar abuse, including being hit with a chair, punched, and struck by a belt.
The court remarked that such cruelty was more common in that era, with abuse being relatively widespread compared to today.
Judge Timothy Stead, addressing Taylor of Shackleton Grove, Johnson Fold, stated: “Within the family unit, where you held parental control and were the dominant figure, your actions consisted of regular beatings that went far beyond justifiable discipline, even considering historical standards.” Taylor had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of child cruelty at an earlier hearing.
