Man aged 101 Ralph Clarke convicted of child sex offences

Ralph Clarke - thought to be the oldest defendant ever to stand trial in a British court - admitted nine charges relating a young boy part-way through his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

A jury found Clarke, of Holly Lane, Erdington, Birmingham, guilty of a further 21 indecent assault and indecency charges on Friday after hearing how the retired lorry driver attacked two girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

Clarke, who was born in March 1915, sat impassively as the unanimous verdicts were delivered.

He is expected to be sentenced next week.

MORE: 101-year-old sex offender branded 'evil' by victim

He claimed the women ? now in their late 40s ? were serial liars but a jury at Birmingham Crown Court today deemed he was lying in a bid to cover up his sex attacks and found him guilty on all but one of the counts.

Detective Constable Emma Fennon from West Midlands Police's Historic Sex Offences Unit ? a specialist team set up last year ? said it was important to secure justice for the survivors of his crimes.

He added: "There may be people who question the merits of taking a 101-year-old man to court ? but age alone is no defence against prosecution.

"Those he assaulted had to live with the suffering he inflicted on them for decades; they have had a life sentence in that respect and I hope they can take some comfort from the fact Clarke has finally been made to pay.

"Clarke subjected innocent children to truly shocking abuse over a prolonged period.

"I'd like to thank them for their bravery in coming forward and disclosing what happened so we could take action against him; we never underestimate the courage needed to speak out.

"Some of these crimes date back almost 40 years… but within West Midlands Police we have specialist teams that investigate historic abuse, no matter how far it dates back, and we are determined to secure justice for survivors."

The decision to prosecute Clarke was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, say West Midlands Police.

It was decided that a prosecution was in the public interest.

Claire Nicholls, Senior Crown Prosecutor from the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service's Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, added: "Ralph Clarke used fear and intimidation to control his victims and sexually abuse them.

"He took full advantage of their young age and the situation in which they found themselves in order to carry out his offences ? and for over 40 years Clarke thought he'd got away with his crimes.

"Due, however, to the courage of the victims we were able to bring this defendant to justice and I would like to take this opportunity to praise the victims for their support throughout this difficult and sensitive prosecution."

After the hearing, an NSPCC spokesman, welcomed the conviction, adding : "Ralph Clarke manipulated vulnerable children to carry out a sickening campaign of abuse.

"His claim that one of his victims 'had every choice' and 'could have said yes or no' is a shocking insight into his lack of understanding of the devastating impact abuse has on a child.

"By bravely speaking out, his victims have brought him to justice after all these years. It shows survivors of child sexual abuse will be listened to, no matter who – or how old - the abuser is, or how long ago it happened.

"They can contact the NSPCC helpline in confidence, 24/7, on 0800 800 5000, text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk."