Latest Offenders London

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A “prolific” and “historic” child abuser from London has been jailed.

“Shocking” sexual abuse by Christopher George Pearce began in Hammersmith back in 1984.

His two victims were aged five and seven at the time.

Pearce’s crimes continued until 1988 when he sexually abused another two children in Chelsea who were ages six and seven.

Police began investigating Pearce in March 2020 after he was caught trying to groom who he believed was a child online.

Once his arrest was posted online, two of his victims came forward and evidence was found dating back as far as 1988.

Pearce, of Cale Street, Chelsea, was sentenced to 16 years in prison by Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, September 27.

Detective Superintendent Tony Larkin for the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation said: “I want to thank the victims for coming forward, speaking to and working with officers through a long and complex investigation.

I hope the bravery and willingness of the victims serves as an inspiration to those who may otherwise fear reporting this kind of abhorrent abuse.

“I am in no doubt that since 1984 Pearce has been an incredibly dangerous child sex offender and is now no longer free to commit offences against children.

“The officers in this case showed true determination in securing justice for all the victims - they are a credit to the Met.

“I would urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse – no matter how long ago – to please come forward to police. We assure you that you will be listened to and we will help you get support you so rightly deserve.”

Crimes of this nature can be reported online or on the telephone or in person to the police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.

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A predatory paedophile who planned sexual attacks on innocent children has been jailed.

Sean Wallace, 43, of Woodside Road, Wood Green, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison for arranging the rape of a child under 13 and distributing an indecent image of a child.

During an undercover operation in which a police officer posed online as a woman with access to a child, Wallace contacted the officer asking if he could sexually abuse the fictional child.

He sent sexual images of himself as well as indecent images of other children, Scotland Yard said.

During online chat and telephone calls Wallace spoke openly about his desire to abuse young girls and made arrangements to meet the woman in order that he could rape the child.

He was arrested at his home address after he failed to attend the planned meeting, stating that he was nervous and needed more time to build up trust with the woman before meeting her.

The examination of his mobile phone identified that Wallace was speaking online to numerous apparently underage girls.

He was charged on August 19, 2022 and held on remand until his sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court on September 19.

Detective Sergeant Robert Blant, whose team led the investigation, said: “Sean Wallace is a dangerous predatory offender, who preyed on innocent and vulnerable young children.

“My team worked around the clock to bring Wallace to justice by going through large amounts of disturbing digital evidence collated from his online activities and seized from his home.

"I’m pleased that as a result of great policing work, we have prevented a dangerous individual from continuing to offend and ruin the lives of children or young people.

“Our dedicated teams will continue to apply their expertise in investigating child sexual offences to safeguard children and young people across London.”

As part of the New Met for London plan, officers are working closely with third sector partners, including The Children’s Society to help young people, parents and carers spot the signs of sexual abuse and predatory behaviour online and offline.

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A ‘predator’ NHS doctor who pursued his ‘amorous intentions’ by sexually assaulting a cleaner in a hospital cupboard has avoided a prison sentence.

Chiemedo Ikpo has been described as a ‘predator’ who took advantage of a female cleaner at St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight after sexually assaulting her in a cupboard. The court heard how Ikpo squeezed his victim’s bottom for six seconds while she was in the cleaning cupboard and the incident has resulted in the victim being ‘an absolute mess at work’.

Ikpo, 50, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court where he was handed community service after being found guilty of sexual assault following the incident at the hospital. Portsmouth Crown Court heard the doctor was initially suspended but was then allowed to work under supervision - including in gynaecology - while waiting for his trial. He was dismissed by the hospital after his conviction in June this year, more than four years after the incident.

A statement from the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was read to the court by prosecutor Andrew Houston.

She said: “I can’t stop looking over my shoulder at work to make sure there’s no one behind me.

“I have been an absolute mess at work, crying all the time.

“It took me a while to feel safe in [the] cleaning cupboard.

“There’s been no support from the hospital. There’s been more support for Mr Ikpo than there has been for me.”

Hannah Hurley, defending, said that the incident was ‘out of character’ for Ikpo and that he denied that there was 'any sexual element' to the incident. She urged the judge not to send him to prison and she said that ‘this has impacted his mental health’.

His Honour Judge William Ashworth said that Ikpo's role as a doctor was 'a position in which a lot of respect and trust is placed' and that any sexual assault is a 'gross violation'.

He said there was an 'imbalance of power' where ‘the victim is left feeling she is “just a cleaner”’ because of the ‘wholly irresponsible’ way in which Ikpo decided to pursue his ‘own amorous intentions with her.’

He added: "No one is just a cleaner. We are all humans. We are all equal."

Ikpo, who is now based in Orpington, Greater London, was handed given a community order of 24 months, including 100 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He will also be required to pay £2500 in costs and he will be registered as a sex offender.

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Disgraced BBC News presenter Huw Edwards has been given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted charges of making indecent images of children.

The court heard that among a number of WhatsApp exchanges with a man later convicted of sex offences, Edwards was offered “naughty” images of somebody described as "yng (sic)", to which he replied "go on".

He will be placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

In July, the former newsreader admitted having 41 images, which were sent to him on WhatsApp – including some showing a victim aged between seven and nine.

During his sentencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court he was also told to attend a sex offender treatment programme.

Edwards was sent images by a 25-year-old convicted sex offender called Alex Williams.

The court heard that in another exchange with Williams, Edwards replied "yes" followed by three 'X's when asked whether he wanted sexual images of a person whose "age could be discerned as being between 14 and 16".

He responded to Williams with: "Amazing". The court heard he was also sent a link with more images, then discussed buying Williams a Christmas present.

Two months later, after yet another exchange, Edwards told Williams: "Don't send anything underage", however this was not the last contact Edwards had with Williams.

The judge sentencing him remarked that the former broadcaster's "long-earned reputation" was "in tatters".

A BBC spokesperson said the corporation was "appalled" by Edwards' crimes.

"He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.”

Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. Under the law, images can mean photos or clips.

The chief magistrate, District Judge Paul Goldspring, accepted Edwards’ submission that he did not make or create the images in the conventional sense, and instead met the legal definition of doing so by opening them on WhatsApp.

The court previously heard that Edwards sent hundreds of pounds to Williams after he sent him pornographic images.

While most of the images were of adult men, a significant proportion of the images were of children.

Of the 377 images, 41 were indecent images, which means they were underage.

The court heard that the Category A images Edwards was in possession of were mostly children aged 13-15.

One child was aged between seven and nine.

The offences were committed between December 2020 and August 2021.

Williams first contacted Edwards in 2018 via Instagram, and has since been convicted and sentenced for distribution and possession of indecent images of children – and it was during that investigation that Edwards’ involvement was revealed, the court heard.

Throughout the hearing, Edwards sat leaning forward, his hands clasped in front of his mouth, elbows propped on his thighs.

Summing up the case, the judge said there was no evidence that Edwards did anything further with the images he received from Williams.

The court heard Edwards had not directly paid for the images, but that there was a clear inference that Williams would request gifts and presents after sending them, and that Edwards had sent money, described by the prosecution as amounting to around £1,000 to £1,500.

Edwards had told Williams not to send images of people who were underage, but only at a later stage, the judge said, adding “this is not a case where, despite protestation not to, nonetheless the images were still sent”.

But the judge found Edwards’ remorse was genuine, and he said the former broadcaster’s decision-making at the time of the offences may have been impaired by his mental health difficulties.

He said Edwards did not pose a risk to the public or children, and an immediate custodial sentence was not necessary because the evidence showed he could be rehabilitated.

The appropriate sentence would be 12 months for the most severe abuse images, the judge said, but, taking into account the mitigation and early guilty plea, he said the sentence would be six months suspended for two years.

It means Edwards will not go to jail unless he commits another offence within the sentence period.

The magistrate also read from a pre-sentence report to highlight the impact such offences have on the victims.

It described how distributing child abuse images “perpetuates a cycle of abuse” and can lead to ongoing traumatisation of victims, impacting them throughout their lives and potentially making them vulnerable to further sexual abuse.

Edwards was found to have seven category A images - the most serious classification.

He also had 12 category B pictures, and 22 photographs in category C, the least serious classification.

The category B and C pictures showed children aged between 12 to 15.

Reacting to the sentencing, the prime minister said he was "shocked and appalled" by the case.

Until last year, Edwards was one of the main presenters on BBC One's News at Ten and often fronted coverage of major national events.

He was the BBC's highest-paid journalist, receiving between £475,000 and £479,999 between April 2023 and April 2024.

The BBC has asked him to return the £200,000 he earned between his arrest last November and his resignation this April.

The BBC's director general said last week that "discussions are under way" about the possibility of clawing back the money.

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A sex offender has been jailed after an off-duty police officer caught him ‘upskirting’ a woman at the British Museum.

Detectives found a string of similar videos on the phone of Jake Verano Gomez after his device was seized and analysed by detectives.

Officers are asking other women who think they may also have been a victim to come forward so they can offer help and support.

Gomez, 33, a Colombian national, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay court fees at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 21 August.

He pleaded guilty to recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent.

Gomez will also have to register with the police in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for up to seven years.The City of London officer noticed the man taking the video while the victim was unaware on August 19, the court had heard.

She detained the suspect with the help of staff and security from the Museum before Met officers arrived and took him into custody.

Detective Constable Holly Wright, from the Public Protection team covering Camden, said: “These kinds of offences have a devastating impact on women and girls who should be free to go about their lives without fear of being the victim of such a horrendous crime.

“Fortunately the presence of our colleague from City of London Police has meant Gomez has now been brought to justice.

“Following his arrest Gomez’s phone was interrogated by Met detectives, they found a number of videos of other victims – also believed to have been filmed that day – were discovered. Sadly, this may mean there are more women who are unaware that they have been the victim of crime.

“If you were at the British Museum on Monday, 19 August around 14:00hrs and think you may have been a victim, I am asking you to come forward and speak to us.”

Any potential victims are asked to call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 4342/19Aug

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A man has been jailed for nine months after exposing his genitals on the London Underground.
 
Dan Pirvu, 26, of Ripple Road, Barking, was sentenced on 14 August at Inner London Crown after he was found guilty by a jury of one count of exposure.
 
He also will have a 10 year signature on the Sex Offenders Register and has been given a 5-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order with the following conditions:

• Prohibited from entering any London Transport Tube station as set out on the London Transport Tube map
• Prohibited from travelling on any London Transport Tube service (either above or below ground)

The court heard how, on Friday 17 November 2023, at around 9.05pm, a member of the public approached a member of TfL staff and reported a man – now known to be Pirvu - exposing his genitals on the District Line platform of West Ham underground station.
 
The member of rail staff flagged this to the CCTV control room, who could immediately see Pirvu on the platform with his trousers exposing both his bottom and genitals. Pirvu was also witnessed by the TfL staff member with his trousers around his knees, exposing himself, and causing members of the public to move away.
 
Pirvu was reported immediately to British Transport Police, who attended the station and arrested Pirvu at 9.13pm.
 
Investigating officer Detective Constable Michael Taylor, said: “There is no place for this kind of behaviour on the rail network and we will work quickly to apprehend these kinds of offenders. 
 
"I hope this sentence, along with the Sexual Harm Prevention Order will give him time allow him to reconsider his actions and prevent him from offending again in the future." 

Description

A dangerous rapist has been jailed as part of the Metropolitan Police Service’s ongoing commitment to protect women and girls from harm.

Victor Adegbesan, 34 (15.10.1989) of Inverness Street, Camden was sentenced to 6 years 7 months’ imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 26 July. He was previously found guilty of two counts of rape after a trial at the same court on Friday, 3 May.

On Thursday, 22 July 2021 Adegbesan subjected the victim-survivor to a frightening and horrific ordeal when he raped her. An investigation began after Met officers quickly responded to a 999 call by the victim. The team worked around-the-clock to gather evidence and secured a charge the next day, keeping Adegbesan in custody and off the streets.

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A sexual predator from Finchley who filmed his offences has been found guilty a court following a Met investigation.

Ross Davidson, 36 (24.02.88) of Station Road, Finchley was found guilty on Thursday, 25 July of several sexual offences at Wood Green Crown Court.

A Met investigation began in 2019 when Davidson was arrested at his home and his personal devices were seized. After careful examination, officers discovered that Davidson had kept seven videos of himself raping and sexually assaulting his victims.

Following charge details of Davidson’s initial arrest being made public, officers identified four victim-survivors in total, who came forward to report rape, sexual assaults, voyeurism and controlling and coercive behaviour.

Detective Inspector Wendy Bassett, who led the investigation, said:

“This investigation has developed over many years with several victim-survivors coming forward at different stages.

"Our team have worked incredibly hard to evidence each incident, support the victims and bring Davidson to justice. We take every report of a sexual offence seriously and will do our utmost to investigate no matter when the incident occurred.

“Davidson is a prolific predatory offender with no regard or care for the impact he has had on the victims. I am pleased with this result and hope it goes some way in providing closure to the victims.”

One victim-survivor reported to police that in 2013 Davidson sexually assaulted and raped her after an evening together. Davidson raped her, ignoring her cries for him to stop, all of which he recorded on his phone.

The second and third victim-survivors were identified after recorded footage was discovered by police following Davidson’s initial arrest. The separate recordings showed both victims being sexually assaulted in their sleep.

The fourth victim-survivor came forward most recently in January 2023, recognising Davidson’s name in the news. Working with the victim to record her statement, officers were able to evidence she had been recorded in one of the videos on his phone without her consent.

Davidson has been convicted rape; two counts of sexual assault and voyeurism. He was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on Friday, 6 September at Wood Green Crown Court.

The Met is doing more to address violence against women and girls and listening to victim-survivors to ensure that people have confidence to report these most awful crimes.

At the heart of our new approach in investigating rape, the Met have a greater focus on the suspect’s life, with a shift away from the ‘credibility’ of the victim-survivor. This means that the victim goes through a less invasive process when reporting an incident such as rape, which officers know is already an incredibly difficult time for them.

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A north London hotel worker raped a hotel guest and sexually assaulted other women by touching their feet as they slept.

Ahmed Fahmy, 45, abused his position as a member of staff at the Anchor Hotel on Golders Green’s West Heath Drive to carry out his sick offences, targeting two members of the same group in January this year.

On Thursday, Fahmy was convicted of one count of rape and three sexual assaults, one of which had taken place while he was working at the Sunborn Yacht Hotel in Newham in March 2022.

Police on Friday warned that there could be more victims, and urged them to come forward if so.

Hendon Magistrates Court heard how a group of four women were staying at the Anchor Hotel when they became separated on a night out with three of them returning.

When they got there, they realised they did not have the room key, and Fahmy demanded one of the women withdraw £80 from a cash machine so that she could stay in another room.

She got into bed fully dressed apart from her shoes and awoke to find Fahmy licking her foot.

She told him no and to go away, but she was then woken a second time to find him doing a similar thing. The woman kicked him and again told him to go away.

Later that morning, the fourth member of the group arrived back at the hotel and told Fahmy she had lost her key. He manoeuvred her into his bedroom where he raped her.

The offending came to light when the women moved to a different hotel immediately after. One of the women again was separated from her friends in Regent’s Park and became distressed.

A park staff member called the police but she could not tell them where her new hotel was, with officers suggesting they go back to the Anchor Hotel where they hoped to find contact details for her friends.

She then started crying and told the officers that she could not return to the hotel as the manager had raped her.

During the course of the investigation, detectives linked Fahmy to two other non-recent sexual assaults, which largely centred on him touching women’s feet, including a sex attack on a woman while on a date in 2008 in Wembley’s Alliance Close.

Met Detective Constable James Gomm, who led the investigation, said: “Fahmy displayed a clear pattern of offending where he abused his position as a hotel worker to get close to his victims and carry out his crimes.”

DC Gomm praised those who had shared what happened with police, saying: “Your bravery has helped put a sexual offender behind bars and protect other women.

“There may be other victims of Fahmy and, if so, I would urge them to get in contact with police immediately – you will be listened to and provided with support.”

Fahmy will be sentenced at the same court on September 20.

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A musician who raped a 13-year-old girl on her birthday has been jailed. Everton Grossett has been convicted after several indecent assaults were found proven by the jury at Inner London Crown Court.

The 38-year-old of Mayall Road, Brixton, was convicted of rape, one count of indecent assault, and another count of indecent assault in relation to five separate incidents after a trial this July. Court documents show the sick predator originally faced 13 child sex offence charges in relation to the same victim during his first appearance at Croydon Magistrates' Court in June last year.

Public records show Grossett is registered as a director on three music companies, with his occupation given as a producer and sound engineer. One of those companies, D3G3OFFICIALS, shares the same name as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram accounts where Grossett appears in short music clips, and is listed as 'Management' on a UK drill video featuring three rappers.

The trial heard how Grossett fed his sexual desires by sexually assaulting the young victim, telling her to 'be quiet' during the abuse then bribing her with money for sweets. After the rape, the victim bled and struggled to explain it to her mum, but it wasn't until she confided in her sister, that his sickening crimes came to light.

In her impact statement, the victim recalled being 'happy and confident' before the abuse started on an 'unforgivable, life-changing night at the hands of Everton Grossett'. The survivor said: "This has been a very long journey, to finding the strength and courage to report it. It took me a long time to tell anyone. I carried it with me, and only me."

She also thanked her sister for 'giving her the strength' to speak out. "Sometimes I dream about the past events and wake up angry, and then spend the whole day trying to hide it from others," she continued, adding: "I hope you [Grossett] are never able to hurt anyone else."

Defence counsel Ms Farrelly conceded there had been 'a course of conduct' and an element of violence, due to the bleeding, but argued the offences should be taken in the context of Grossett's 'difficult' home life. The barrister also cited Grossett's 'good character' since the horrific abuse.

The court also heard Grossett has his own children, aged 12 and 17, but had not been allowed to see them since his conviction. The mother of those children submitted a positive character reference, describing him as 'an exceptional father'. Arguing that Grossett was 'rather exceptional', Ms Farrelly called on the judge to give him 'quite substantial' mitigation.

Jailing him for six years and eight months, Judge David Richards told the predator: "It's clear to me, you could not control your appetite or compulsion to abuse [the victim]."

Grossett will serve half of a two-year sentence for one multiple incident count of indecent assault, then two-thirds of a consecutive four-year eight-month sentence for rape. He will serve a concurrent 12-month sentence for another count of indecent assault.

Description

A prolific child abuser and rapist has been jailed as part of the ongoing commitment by the Metropolitan Police to investigate child abuse and protect women and girls from harm.

Dulon Miah, 35 (08.09.88) of Tower Hamlets was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday, 10 July. Miah was previously found guilty at the same court in April of 18 counts of sexual assault over a 14-year period against two victims, including rapes.

Met officers began investigating Miah in 2022 after one of his victims bravely came forward and told police they had been abused from the age of six-years-old over the span of a decade. Both female victims were known to Miah.

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A semi-professional football player has been jailed for the rape of a woman after a night out in Shoreditch. Nathan Ashton, 27, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the attack having denied raping the victim, saying the sex was consensual.

The rape took place in the early hours of a night in 2023, after Ashton and the woman had been at a bar in Shoreditch with a group of friends. The woman and her two friends left the bar and were offered a lift home by Ashton.

She reported to officers that Ashton had been touching her inappropriately throughout the night, leaving her feeling guarded and vulnerable as a result. Once they arrived at the address in Romford, Ashton decided to stay with the three women.

They all ended up going to bed and fell asleep in different rooms, after which Ashton entered the victim’s room and raped her.

The woman reported the attack to police and officers launched an investigation. Ashton was brought in for questioning at a local police station and denied the claims of rape, maintaining that the sex was consensual. The jury found otherwise. Ashton, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 16 years in prison at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, July 16.

Detective Sergeant Ben Wallen who led the investigation, said: “Our officers were meticulous in their investigation against Ashton and secured a great outcome as a result. The victim-survivor is extremely brave reporting this to the police and we encourage all victims to come forward and speak with our specialist officers to help remove these prolific offenders off our streets.

“We remain dedicated in providing support to rape victims and protecting women and girls from predatory offenders, and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim to go to the police.”

The Met Police has said it is trying to change the way they investigate rapes. A spokesperson said: "At the heart of our new approach in investigating rape, the Met have a greater focus on the suspect’s life, with a shift away from the ‘credibility’ of the victim-survivor. This means that the victim goes through a less invasive process when reporting an incident such as rape, which officers know is already an incredibly difficult time for them."

Description

A sex offender raped a jogger at knifepoint during a four-day spree of violence against eight women after he was allowed to walk free from a secure hospital.

Louis Collins, 29, hit the woman over the head and forced her to the ground in Marble Hill Park in Twickenham, south-west London during the hour-long attack on Aug 21 last year.

Brandishing a knife and a broken bottle he said dont scream, nobodys going to help you, before tearing her clothes off and assaulting her, the court heard.

Two women began to approach after they heard the victim screaming for help, but Collins yelled f--- off or I will kill you and they left.

Patricia May, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing that Collins was let out of Lambeth Hospital without supervision on Aug 18 last year after doctors agreed he could have an unescorted absence.

Shattered my sense of security

Shortly after being released, he groped a woman at Clapham Common station as she travelled up the escalator.

Collins later returned to the hospital past his curfew, but despite this was allowed to leave again on Aug 20.

That day he attacked and attempted to rape two other women, sexually assaulting four more and threatening to kill another, before raping the jogger at around 8am on August 21, Ms May said.

At Kingston Crown Court, Collins pleaded guilty to 27 charges including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault between August 18 and 21 last year.

Siobhan Molloy, mitigating, said Collins, of Croydon, south London, claimed voices in his head had told him to carry out the attacks. However, a doctor said Collins did not show signs of a psychotic illness.

Pleaded guilty to all charges

In a statement read at court the victim said: On August 21, my world turned upside down. What happened on that day shattered my sense of security, trust in people and justice.

The victim said she had waited 18 months for professional counselling to help her deal with the trauma.

A spokesman for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, responsible for Lambeth Hospital, said: We strongly support the courts decision today in sentencing Louis Collins who pleaded guilty to all charges.

These are appalling crimes, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

We have completed a thorough internal investigation and continue to do our utmost to improve our services.

Collins will be sentenced on Tuesday.

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A man has been jailed after he met a woman in Romford, became physically violent towards her and raped her in her home. Sam Price prevented the woman from leaving her house during a sustained period of intimidation and abuse which took place over a week.

Price, 25 (05.05.99) of Central Park Avenue, Dagenham appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 5 July where he was sentenced to ten and a half years' imprisonment for rape, and two counts of assault. He also received a lifetime restraining order and will be added to the Sex Offenders Register.

On Sunday 16 July 2023, Price met a woman and exchanged details with her. Within a matter of days of meeting her, the abuse started. Price punched her repeatedly, bit her, and subjected her to various other attacks and threats. As well as these attacks, he also raped her.

The ordeal lasted for seven days, before Price left the property and the victim managed to call her friend, who notified police. Officers arrived at the property. They acted swiftly to collect CCTV evidence, witness and victim statements. This led to the arrest of Price, within days of the report.

Price was arrested at an address in Central Park Avenue following covert work by the local manhunt team and subsequently interviewed on Wednesday, 26 July by detectives from the Met’s East Area Public Protection Unit.

He was found guilty of rape and one count of assault following a trial at the same court following the conclusion of a trial in April. Price had earlier pleaded guilty to another count of assault.

Description

A paedophile teacher jailed last week for years of sexual abuse was still running art classes for a local charity when police began investigating his perverted crimes.

Stephen Beck, 73, of Anerley Road, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to 12 years in prison after being convicted of 15 historic sexual offences against former male student.

“That was my biggest concern,” said the mother of the former student he abused. “He was still holding art lessons.”

By the time Beck was arrested in 2019, he had been running art classes at Anerley Town Hall for 20 years.

In 2009, the News Shopper reported that he had received a Jack Petchey Leader Award for his art classes for Bromley children. At that time, they had already been running for 11 years.

The Crystal Palace Community Trust (CPCT), which now runs the Town Hall, said in a statement: “We can confirm that Mr Beck was suspended with immediate effect as soon as the matter came to light, at which time we understood the matter was now a police investigation.

“The trust cooperated fully with the authorities and provided them with all relevant information during their investigation.”

The charity's development manager Elaine Harrison said in an interview that the trust did not even come into existence until 2001.

Mr Beck was already running his classes by then and had begun abusing his victim – a teenage boy -  in 2000.

Judge Deborah Charles said in court last week that Beck had been working as a caretaker at the Town Hall at that time. One of the attacks even occurred inside the Town Hall.

Bromley Council did not comment on these claims.

Mrs Harrison said that by the time CPCT took over the building on a 40-year lease in 2017, Beck’s classes had already been running for years for Bromley Council.

“All of us, when we heard the news of Mr Beck’s suspension, were very shocked and distressed. It’s an awful, awful thing,” she said.

“We suspended him immediately but we were actually told not to conduct our own investigation because it can hinder or influence the police investigation.”

“The room in which we held the art class is right in the front of the building,” she said. “A large room with several doors. The doors were never closed.

“All our staff who work with children have a DBS check. Staff are never left alone with children. We just don’t do that.”

Beck would have passed any DBS check as his offending was not uncovered until his victim, then in his 30s, finally came forward in 2018.

Mrs Harrison said she was unaware, until she was informed by the News Shopper, that one of his offences had happened inside the Town Hall.

We asked Bromley Council whether it had conducted any investigation of its own into Beck’s time working at Anerley Town Hall.

It said the building had not been council-run for more than 20 years.

It was converted into offices in 2003 and became known as the Anerley Town Hall and Business Centre.

Bromley did admit that it had employed Beck at Bromley Adult Education College, which it runs.

“We were obviously saddened to learn about these historic offences and are pleased that justice has now been served,” a spokesperson said.

“Whilst the investigation did not involve the council, it is a matter of public record that the offender was employed by Bromley Adult Community College, teaching only adults, for a period of time over a decade ago, including on a sessional basis.

“We remain fully supportive of any police investigation and are sure that the police would make contact if they needed to do so.”

Beck, who claimed at trial to have been a friend of David Bowie, had his own failed pop career, having released a single called For The Love Of You in 1975, under the name Steve Beck.

He was well-known in Anerley for painting shop signs and restaurant menus.

The court heard he began “grooming” his victim at age six or seven but did not start abusing him until he was a teenager.

He abused the boy every two or three weeks for years.

He will serve up to eight years in prison and the rest of his sentence on licence. He will be required to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.