Coventry paedophile, 97, jailed and may die in prison for historic sex abuse of girl, 4 - The Coventry Observer

Coventry paedophile, 97, jailed and may die in prison for historic sex abuse of girl, 4

Coventry Editorial 18th Apr, 2019 Updated: 18th Apr, 2019   0

An old man is ‘likely to die in prison,’ where he will spend his 100th birthday if he is not freed on compassionate grounds, after being jailed for sexually abusing a little girl.

Christopher Stowe had pleaded not guilty to the offences – before pleading guilty to three charges of indecent assault on the day of his trial at Warwick Crown Court.

Stowe (97) of Brackley Close, Coventry, also admitted a further charge of gross indecency by getting his young victim to touch him indecently.

He was jailed for a total of six years, of which, under normal circumstances, he would be released after serving half, and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.




But because he was classed as ‘an offender of particular concern,’ it will be up to the Parole Board to decide whether he can be freed at that stage or whether he should serve longer – and he also faces an additional two years on licence.

But Judge Sarah Buckingham pointed out: “The Secretary of State does have the power at any time to release a defendant on compassionate grounds. That is an avenue which may be open to the Secretary of State in your case.”


Prosecutor Peter Cooper said Stowe, having been born on Christmas Day in 1921, was now 97, and the young girl he abused on four occasions in the 1970s is in her 40s.

Stowe, who was in his 50s at the time of the incidents, took opportunities when he was alone in a room with the girl, whose parents he knew, to kiss her with ‘protracted adult kisses.’

The four incidents reflected in the charges happened when the girl thought she was three or four, but which Stowe said took place when she was four or five.

On one occasion he touched her intimately, rubbing her with his fingers, and on another occasion he exposed himself and got her to touch him.

There were also two occasions when he penetrated her with his fingers, causing her pain and soreness, and told her not to tell anyone because they would not believe her.

Badly affected by what had happened, his victim finally went to the police in 2017 to report the abuse at his hands.

And when the police went to his home to arrest him, Stowe ‘made admissions that what he had done was wrong,’ but claimed he had touched her ‘but nothing else.’

Mr Cooper said: “He said it had happened only about twice, and that he wanted to tell her how sorry he was and to seek her forgiveness.”

Stowe later admitted he had put his fingers inside her, claiming that at the time ‘she didn’t mind,’ adding: “I am very, very sorry, and I would like to tell her to her face.”

Reading a statement in court, his tearful victim said the incidents had ruined her childhood, making her feel worthless and dirty, and had continued to affect her in her adult life.

Mr Cooper pointed out that the maximum sentences at the time for the indecent assaults were five years, and two years for the gross indecency offence.

Two of the indecent assaults would now be classed as assault by penetration, with a maximum sentence of life, while the other two offences carry maximum sentences of 14 years – but the sentences had to be those available at the time.

Trying to persuade the judge to impose a suspended sentence, Adam Western, defending, said: “He is a man reaching the end of his years, he no longer poses and risk or threat to anyone.

“He’s someone who has rehabilitated himself. He is plainly not the same man who committed these serious offences over 40 years ago. His expressions of shame, remorse and contrition are genuine.”

Mr Western said Stowe, who was diagnosed with heart failure in 2017, from which he has recovered, uses a wheelchair and cannot walk unaided, has poor eyesight and has been referred to a specialist because of suspected skin cancer.

“This is a physically and mentally frail man. Prison would bear down on him much harder than on other inmates.

“He would be vulnerable to bullying, and it would bring down his already short life expectancy. It’s likely any sentence of any length would mean his death in prison.”

But jailing Stowe, Judge Buckingham told him: “You would have been in your 50s when this happened, and she would have been three, four or five.

“You said in the police interview you wanted to apologise to her to her face. That apology is far too late. The effect on her has been profound and long-lasting.

“You did express some remorse when you were interviewed, but you did not plead guilty until the day of your trial.

“Of course I have had regard to your extremely mature age, and that there is a very real prospect that you will end your days in custody. But balanced against that is the obvious harm you have caused to her.

“Only a custodial sentence can be justified. Your counsel has submitted it should be suspended. I am afraid some offending, however historic, and however mitigated by your otherwise good conduct, is too serious for that.”

But she then pointed out it was open to the Secretary of State, at any stage, to release him on compassionate grounds.

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