12% rise in CSA reports in Essex
Son of Greggs Bakers founder sentenced to 13 years for CSA
Vicar Peter Low admits to hoarding child porn
Essex Police responds to dramatic
child sex abuse rise
By ConorGogarty
A total of 444 crimes were recorded against children aged ten and under
Essex Police has released a statement on new figures showing four children were abused in Essex every day last year.
The number of child sex offences recorded by police across Essex rose to 1,449 in 2016, up 12 per cent from the previous year.
A spokeswoman for Essex Police said the force "takes all reports of sexual offences seriously and there is no higher priority than protecting vulnerable children and adults in our county".
She added: "We have seen an increase in recorded offences, including those involving children, which is in line with the national picture and is a result of victims being confident to come forward and report them to us.
"Some of the offences reported to us are made by adult survivors of child abuse and there have been some high profile cases involving historic abuse that have encouraged victims to come forward.
Essex, UK
Son of Greggs founder jailed for more than 13 years for child sex abuse
A file photograph of Colin Gregg, the son of the founder of the Greggs bakers chain, who has been jailed for indecently assaulting four boys. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA
Press Association
The son of the founder of the Greggs bakers chain has been jailed for 13-and-a-half years after being branded a “sophisticated, predatory paedophile” by a judge.
Colin Gregg, 75, was sentenced at Newcastle crown court having been convicted of nine counts of indecent assault on four boys over a period of decades.
Gregg, who helped build up the family business and also worked as a social worker, abused his positions of trust as a teacher and headteacher to sexually abuse boys, Judge Robin Mairs said.
He had denied all the charges, claiming he was the victim of a “witch hunt” and that the complainants were looking for compensation.
Gregg grew wealthy from the family business and helped to raise thousands of pounds for children’s charities, the court heard.
The judge said: “It is true you have enjoyed great wealth, privilege and social standing.
“It is also true that you used those benefits as a cloak of respectability behind which you sexually abused young boys. You were a charismatic, inspiring teacher and mentor but you used those attributes to groom boys and to protect yourself from allegations.”
Gregg’s defence was that the complainants were fantasists and liars, but the judge said the jury heard their evidence and they were convinced it was the defendant who was lying.
The judge said: “What it demonstrated is that there is not a shred of remorse within you for your offending and the utter contempt for the complainants as children found its echo in your contempt for them as men.”
Gregg, of Homefarm Steading, Gosforth, Newcastle, abused one victim in a swimming pool, the others were molested in a gym, his study or a car.
The judge said: “This was sophisticated predatory behaviour, you are a sophisticated predatory paedophile.”
Gosforth, UK
Maldon vicar Peter Low admits hoarding
child sex abuse images
Peter Low outside Chelmsford Crown Court
A vicar has admitted downloading a horde of images showing the sexual abuse of children.
Peter Low, 65, of Crescent Road, Heybridge, served as the vicar of Heybridge and Langford Parishes, but was suspended when the images were discovered in July last year.
He was charged with three counts of possession of indecent images of children and one count of possession of a prohibited image of a child and pleaded guilty to the offences at Chelmsford Crown Court this morning.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Chelmsford said: "The Diocese of Chelmsford, where he had been working, took the police investigation extremely seriously, and worked closely with the police.
Low was suspended by the Diocese of Chelmsford
"Mr Low was suspended from all his duties as a vicar by the Bishop of Chelmsford immediately the Bishop was informed of the Police investigation, and he remains suspended.
"Mr Low will face a Church investigation under the Clergy Discipline Measure once the criminal case has been concluded.
"The Diocese is appalled that a clergyman has fallen so far short of the standards expected by the Church.
"The Diocese strives to uphold the highest standards in safeguarding policy, training, practice and disciplinary action. The online abuse of children destroys childhoods and devastates society. It is not tolerated by the Church.
It very often also destroys adulthoods, not just childhoods.
"We are offering pastoral support and are keeping all those affected by the situation in our prayers."
Low will be back before Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday, May 2 for sentencing.
Heybridge, Maldon, UK
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