Number of pensioners charged with sex offences soars

RECORD numbers of OAPs are being investigated over historic sex crimes.

By Matthew Davis, EXCLUSIVE /

Ralph Clarke GETTY / STOCK

OLDEST: Ralph Clarke is believed to be the oldest person convicted in British legal history

Latest figures from the Crown Prosecution Service show that last year 823 people aged 70 or over were charged with offences.

It is a 11% rise on the figure a year earlier and double the number of OAPs being charged with sex offences three years ago.

Much of the rise is said to be down to the so-called Jimmy Savile effect where people are now more willing to come forward.

Celebrities, religious figures and schoolteachers are all being held to account for sexual misconduct from many decades ago.

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Jimmy Savile – the vicious predator used his fame to mask his hideous predelictions. The monster was never charged with his crimes. Getty Images
Jimmy Savile – the vicious predator used his fame to mask his hideous predelictions. The monster was never charged with his crimes.

    Police forces are putting more resources into this type of investigation to ensure people are brought to justice – even if the crimes they committed were 20, 30 or 40 years old.

    In April 2017, Ralph Clarke, aged 101, who is believed to be the oldest person convicted in British legal history, failed in an appeal against the 13-year term imposed on him for a string of sex offences against children during the 1970s and 1980s.

    He unsuccessfully claimed he was “too old for jail”.

    Famous celebrities aged over 70 who have been jailed in recent years for sex offences include Rolf Harris (87), Gary Glitter (73) and Stuart Hall (87).

    PR guru Max Clifford died aged 74 this month while in jail for historic sex offences.

    Separate figures show that the actual number of historic sex crimes being investigated has increased sharply from an estimated 4,500 in 2012 to last year’s figure of 10,000.

    The Home Office figures show that about 10% of all sex crimes being investigated by police were committed more than 20 years ago.

    Ministry of Justice statistics show the number of people aged 70 or more being held in prisons for all types of crimes has almost doubled in the last four years to more than 1,000.

    Jimmy Savile GETTY

    RISE: Much of the rise is due to the so-called Jimmy Savile effect

    There are 1,185 in their 70s, 213 aged in their 80s and 11 aged 90 or over.

    The National Police Chiefs Council Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, said: “Increased reporting of child abuse has led to a surge in the number of investigations.

    “Irrespective of the age of any individuals involved, police will investigate recent and historic child sexual abuse cases impartially and thoroughly while upholding the highest professional standards.”