Cruel Worcestershire foster carer jailed for 20 months

Feb 5 2012 by Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury

A CRUEL foster carer has been jailed for 20 months for sexually abusing three vulnerable young girls in his care after police outrage sparked a U-turn in his sentencing.

The man, aged in his seventies and from Redditch, Worcestershire, admitted six counts of child cruelty, four of indecent assault on children and three of indecency with a child, at Hereford Crown Court last October.

Yet the twice married grandad, who cannot be named for legal reasons, only received a suspended prison sentence for his reign of terror against the girls, all aged under 10.

But his case was brought back to court last week following advice from the Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC.

Giving judgment, Lord Justice Pitchford, sitting with Mr Justice Underhill and Mr Justice Lindblom, at London’s Court of Appeal, said the suspended sentence originally imposed was “unduly lenient” and re-sentenced the pensioner to the prison term.

Lord Justice Pitchford said: “There is no indication that the offender is not fit to serve a sentence of imprisonment, nor that appropriate treatment would not be available if necessary.

“We are dealing with what we regard as a serious case of sexual misconduct by a foster carer against young children over a significant period of years.”

Worcestershire social services approved the man’s appointment as a short term foster parent in the 1980s.

They are currently reviewing the case and will prepare a report for the Safeguarding Children’s Board.