Pensioner who indecently assaulted boys walks free

6:31pm Friday 8th August 2008

A pensioner who indecently assaulted two young boys in Bushy Park has left court a free man - despite “richly deserving” a jail term according to the judge.

At Kingston Crown Court today, Judge Campbell described 72-year-old Edward Prior of Fulwell Road, Fulwell, as a “menace” and sentenced him to a three year community order.

“You richly deserve a prison sentence.”

Judge Campbell

Judge Campbell said: “If I were to send you to prison I could only do so for a relatively short time.

“I have come to the conclusion that is not the best way of protecting young people from you.”

Last month Prior denied sexually touching a nine-year-old and an 11-year-old at the park in February, but was found guilty by a jury. Neither boy can be named for legal reasons.

Police arrested Prior on February 29 coming out of a changing room used by young boys.

A search revealed he was carrying a double sided photograph, showing three naked young boys and a used condom.

Judge Campbell dismissed the idea of serving the sex offender with a suspended sentence because such a verdict would automatically reduce the length of any supervision order.

He added: “You richly deserve a prison sentence.”

As part of the community order Prior will be under supervision for three years and have to attend a community sex offender programme.

In mitigation, Elizabeth Smaller, questioned the benefit of sending Prior to a group sex offender programme.

She said: “The only company he will have would be a newly acquired network of sexual offenders and that would be unproductive.

“This vulnerable man would not be assisted by being introduced to others in this regard.”

Prior was also issued with a maximum three-year prohibited activity requirement, which gives strict conditions over contact with under 16s and bans him from using a mobile phone camera “or similar device” to take pictures of children.

He will be on the sex offenders’ register for the next five years.