April 2014
Other victims of Leeds paedophile urged to come forward
A sex abuse victim says he is convinced there are others who have suffered at the hands of a serial paedophile from Leeds who is finally behind bars.
Charles Dye, 53, of Shakespeare Grange, Burmantofts, was yesterday jailed for eight years at Teesside Crown Court after being found guilty of 23 historic crimes against seven boys.
The offences were committed against children aged four to 15 between 1979 and 1990 in Selby and Leeds as well as Nelson and Colne in Lancashire.
Between 1976 and 1984 he performed sexual acts on the first four boys, Richard Walters, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court. He tied one victim, a teenager, to a tree “in a playful way” before abusing him.
On another occasion, when staying away from home, he persuaded a boy aged four or five to get into bed with him until the boy’s parents realised what was going on and stopped it.
In 1988, he was given a community punishment by Selby magistrates for abusing the eighth victim, but restarted his crimes and in the next few years abused three boys in Lancashire and Leeds including when he was baby-sitting one.
In 2000 he was given a three-year probation order at York Crown Court for abusing the ninth victim.
Teesside Crown Court heard many of Dye’s victims had tried to suppress their memories of the abuse until one of the Selby victims went to the police, beginning the investigation that brought Dye to justice.
One of the victims, now aged 49, said he had lost his job and had left his home only twice in the last decade after first reporting the abuse in about 2002.
The man, who can’t be named for legal reasons, said he was sure there were other victims who had been abused since the last known cases.
He said: “He has ruined so many people’s lives – and they’re just the people we know about.
“I would put my life on there being others. Leopards don’t change their spots. He’s sick and I can’t believe there aren’t other people like me out there.”
Dye, an unemployed factory worker, targeted his victims by either befriending their families and babysitting for them, or grooming children with cash, sweets and cigarettes, before abusing them.
His offending came to light when one of his victims contacted North Yorkshire Police in January 2012.
As a result of the initial investigation, further offences were uncovered.
Investigating officer, Sergeant Carol Kirk, said: “Dye is a predatory paedophile who targeted young children for his own sexual gratification, abusing his victims’ and their families’ trust in the worst way possible.
“He showed arrogance and contempt for what he had done right up until his trial, forcing his victims to re-live their distressing ordeals in court.
“I hope today’s sentence gives his victims some closure on the events which have affected their lives for the past 30 years and that they can now begin to move on with their lives.
“This case was very complex and I am now satisfied that justice has been done.
“I hope the outcome at court gives other victims of abuse the confidence to come forward to the police or seek support from one of the many agencies who now exist to help victims of abuse.”
