James Reading 46

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'Dangerous' fugitive Air Training Corps sergeant jailed for abusing three girl cadets

James Reading went on the run two-and-a-half years ago when he was facing serious allegations of sexual assault on three different young members of his troop

A fugitive Air Training Corps sergeant is starting a ten year jail sentence for abusing girl cadets after being caught and brought to justice.

James Reading went on the run two-and-a-half years ago when he was facing serious allegations of sexual assault on three different young members of his troop.

He was found guilty and jailed in his absence for ten years in December 2012. Police alerted Interpol and launched an international manhunt but in the end Reading was arrested in Bicester, Oxfordshire on Tuesday of this week.

He was brought to Exeter Crown Court in custody to face a charge of absconding and his case was adjourned until next month to allow him to get legal representation.

Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, ordered he appear before Judge Erik Salomonsen, who passed the original sentence, and warned him he could receive up to 12 months extra in jail.

Reading was the sergeant in charge of the ATC at Okehampton, North Devon, where he organised parties and sleepovers.

He assaulted one young victim after telling her she may be promoted if she went on night exercises with him and another on the eve of a Remembrance Day parade.

He plied his victims with alcohol at the unofficial parties at the ATC hut where he hid his activities by putting bin bags over the windows as makeshift curtains.

The sergeant invited boys to the parties but sent them on errands or into different rooms while he was carrying out his attacks.

He offered one girl 50 to touch her chest and was caught red handed when one female cadet burst into the hut's kitchen to find him with a topless, terrified and hysterical 14-year-old.

Reading, aged 37, of Knighton Road, Plymouth, denied eight offences of sexual activity with a child or inciting a child to take part in sexual activity but was found guilty in his absence by a jury at Exeter in December 2012.

The offences related to a 14-year-old and two 15-year-olds.

At the end of his trial Judge Erik Salomonsen said:"The ATC fulfils and important role in the community and parents must know they can rely on them to look after their children.

"It goes without saying this applies to their moral as well as their physical welfare and the highest standards should have been adhered to in relation to alcohol and the separation of the sexes during overnight activities.