Shocking increase in sex crimes against children in Staffordshire
NEARLY 2,000 sex crimes against children have been reported to police in the county in just four years.
And new figures show the number of offences against boys and girls is on the increase.
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Speaking out: Maureen Wood, a victim of incest throughout much of her childhood, has called for more action to help vulnerable youngsters.
Staffordshire Police dealt with 578 alleged sex crimes during the last year calendar year, compared to just 370 in 2010; 587 in 2009; and 458 in 2008.
The crimes include rape, incest and abuse of children through prostitution and pornography.
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Alarmingly, last year 154 victims were aged under 10, and a further 421 were reported against youngsters aged 10 to 17.
And of the 578 total, 479 of the victims were girls.
And the statistics place Staffordshire 10th out of 43 police forces in England and Wales.
Last year, Derbyshire reported 549 sex crimes against children, Cheshire 274 and West Mercia 449.
Now Maureen Wood, a victim of incest throughout much of her childhood, has called for more action to help vulnerable youngsters.
From the age of just eight, Maureen was subjected to a shocking catalogue of assaults by her brother, stepfather and mother.
Mother-of-five Maureen, aged 41, of Penkhull, eventually spoke out, and her abusers were jailed.
She fears the new figures show a large minority of children in the region are still suffering in silence.
She said: "I think the number is high.
"It's too high. There are far too many children still being abused.
"On the other hand it shows how many crimes are being reported, which can only be a good thing. But if you looked at the number of cases that aren't reported you'd probably be looking at three times that.
"There are more resources out there now for children to speak out, and there is more openness.
"More people need to be encouraged to speak out. The abuse is something that you're made to feel is shameful and you would be judged, or accused of lying and being a trouble-maker.
"But this is how the abusers make their victims feel in order to carry out their sick acts."
At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court last year, Maureen's now 68-year-old stepfather John Wood, of Brocklehurst Way, Sneyd Green, was convicted of seven counts of rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Her brother John Donnelly, 46, of Talke, received two years in jail after admitting rape, incest and indecent assault.
In a re-trial, Maureen Wood (senior), aged 65, was found guilty of four counts of aiding and abetting the rape of a girl under 16. She was jailed for nine years.
In Staffordshire, 1,993 sex crimes against children were reported.
Detective Superintendent John Maddox, head of Staffordshire Police's Protecting Vulnerable People department, said every reported case is investigated.
"The force treats all reports of sexual abuse against children or adults extremely seriously, no matter how long ago the offence happened, and we will carry out a thorough and detailed investigation into such reports.
"We are determined to bring offenders to justice and committed to helping all victims of sexual abuse."
Nationally, the NSPCC says that more than 400 sexual assaults against children were reported to police forces in England and Wales every week last year, with fewer than one in 10 resulting in a conviction.
Jon Brown, head of the NSPCC's sexual abuse programme, said: "The NSPCC is doing what it can by using information like this from the police to tailor our services.
"Different approaches are needed depending on the age of the child.
"We are also pioneering new programmes in the West Midlands to tackle sexual abuse of children, including our Schools Service which aims to visit every primary school in the county over two years."
Comments
by buxton53
Friday, July 20 2012, 12:15AM
“WHAT IF PEOPLE GET SENT DOWN ON NO EVIDENCE JUST ON ALLEGATATIONS AND FOR THE MONEY THEY CAN CALM { I DONT THINK THAT IS FAIR } HOW DO YOU NO IF THAT PERSON IS A PAEDOPHILE I NO A CASE LIKE THIS WHAT SHELL I DO”
by MaureenCWood
Friday, May 11 2012, 3:56PM
“In response to all of the above comments I would just like to clarify that as 'the victim' in this story that the sentences of my abusers I felt were just. Yes my brother got a lighter sentence than my mother but there are reasons for that which I shall not go into here. This story is about highlighting abuse not for a debate on whether all allegations are true or false. To go to the police with my abuse was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life but it is a path I do not regret.”
by strandedhere
Monday, April 09 2012, 3:35PM
“I noticed a few years ago that some of the keenest proponents of the notion that every allegation of sexual assault was true suddenly started back-tracking.All of a sudden,teachers' unions were pushing for girls who made "malicious" allegations to be ignored/reprimanded.
The headline of this article assumes that all allegations are true.No fantasy,no revenge,no malice.If that's true,if we know that every one of the men named as abusers is guilty,what need of a trial and a jury? Let's change the law,and move straight from allegation to sentence.2,000 allegations in four years,so 2,000 sentences.It'd be one way of getting rid of someone you didn't like.
In most cases there's no evidence.Proving that someone innappropriatly touched you 23 years ago is impossible.It's one person's word against another's.I think it very important to protect our children,but I don't think that setting quota for convictions is the answer.”
by Tonyjohnt
Monday, April 09 2012, 12:29PM
“Nezzer89 - percentages are funny things. I was 67.3% bored by, but only 1.3% in disagreement with your post... go figure...”
by Nezzer89
Monday, April 09 2012, 11:01AM
“Interesting point at the bottom of this piece that says nationally only 10% of alleged sex crimes against children result in a conviction. Out of 400 x 52 = 20,800 alleged crimes, does that mean
1) The courts are incompetent when 90% of the time when sentencing or
2) 90% of the time there is no evidence to merit a conviction
3) 90% of allegations are untrue
4) There are 90% x 20,800 = 18,720 more paedophiles left wandering the streets every year.
Makes you think”
by Tonyjohnt
Monday, April 09 2012, 10:19AM
“truestokie - if your last sentence is insinuating that our judiciary are paedophiles, then yes, you probably are alone.
It's a tricky one... how best to protect our children from predatory adults? Food for thought for all the Daily Fail readers who scream "political correctness gone mad"! whenever sex education in primary schools is mooted.”
by truestokie
Monday, April 09 2012, 10:07AM
“This dispicable crime ruins childrens lives and the punishment does not fit the harm that has been done.
Whether black, white, green or purple spotted, there should be no hiding place and the punishment should be severe, if not final.
As has been stated there is no cure for this, so the punishment should fit the level of the crime.
Am I alone in thinking that leneient judges come under suspicion when releaseing these scumbags onto our streets?”
by ausiegirl
Sunday, April 08 2012, 6:48AM
“Unfortunately, pedophilia is not something that can be treated or cured. Various schemes have come and gone on how to deal with these people. Even chemical castration does not work because it does not take away the desire to molest.
I suspect that we are more aware of incest these days because teachers and doctors have to report if they suspect. Also, children are encouraged to speak out. However, while you have mothers who would rather lose a child than lose the latest boyfriend, it is hard to prove. (I am not blaming mothers for all situations, just some). I have worked with victims where mothers would not believe their children, even the very young ones who barely had any idea that what had happened was wrong.
Don't know how to attack the situation but I do know that it happens across the socio, economic board and really has no boundaries where religion or culture are concerned. Sentencing should be harder but I don't know if that's enough.”
by Vurk_Lurker
Sunday, April 08 2012, 12:46AM
“Tony, there is no solution except to take them out of circulation. A paedophile will no more change his sexual preference than you or I would.”
by mykidsfuture
Saturday, April 07 2012, 7:08PM
“"mrbigman
I am aware that the judges don't make the laws, but in their sentencing they and they alone decide on what punishment is handed down. Yes there are guidelines, but these are only guidelines. There are also maximum terms written down in legislation for such crimes, but judges very very rarely hand down the maximum term unless it is one of there own. More so now that the prisons are close to maximum occupancy, alot of which appear to be OAPs that cannot afford to pay their council tax, which in itself is damning evidence that anyone can do what they what to the vunerable in society, but cross the government and the penalties are severe. A premise that was introduced by "your precious conservative government", assuming by your comments that you are not a supporter of the Labour government.
Finally mrbigman, " and your precious ex labour government were no different to this lot",
it never has, nor ever will be my precious labour party.”