Pensioner found guilty of historic sexual abuse dating back to 1970s

A Kenilworth pensioner has been jailed for up to 18 years after being found guilty of “appalling” acts of sexual abuse on two young children up to 40 years ago.
Malcolm Arthur Blood.Malcolm Arthur Blood.
Malcolm Arthur Blood.

Malcolm Arthur Blood (pictured right) was convicted of the historical abuse - which included rape and indecent assault on a young girl and eight or nine-year-old boy in the 1970s.

The jury at Warwick Crown Court returned a unanimous guilty verdict after almost six hours of deliberations - despite the court hearing that Blood was ‘a very good father’ to his own children.

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Judge Sylvia de Bertodano ruled that the father had caused his two victims “severe distress” and must now serve at least two-thirds of his 18 year sentence.

Blood, 69 of Willow Meer, Kenilworth must also register as a sex offender for life.

Blood was convicted of six charges of raping an 11-year-old girl as well as six counts of indecent assault.

Blood, who denied all the charges against him, was also found guilty of five counts of indecently assaulting an eight- or nine-year-old boy.

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The court heard how Blood touched the boy indecently and made the boy touch him in a similar way.

Prosecutor Peter Cooper told the jury that the age of the victims meant that consent was not the issue for them to decide.

“It’s one of those cases where things were done to children who felt unable at that time or for many years after to tell anyone,” he said.

“But consent is not going to be part of this case; that is not the issue. The issue is: did these things happen at all? He is denying they happened.”

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Blood’s separate abuse of the two children took place when he was living in Warwick, where they also lived.

Neither victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke up until the woman -now in her 40s - heard a talk on abuse which prompted her to come forward.

A police investigation then led to the other victim ‘who had his own sad tale to tell’.

The man told the court how when he was a boy Blood had fondled his genitals and performed other acts on him.

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The court heard that the maximum sentence at the time of the incidents would be just two years for assaults on the girl, and ten years for offences against the boy.

But Judge de Bertodano said the terms would run at the same time as the rape sentences, meaning Blood will have to serve at least 12 years of his 18 year jail term.

Graeme Simpson, defending, said Blood was of previous good character and was now in poor health.

He was awaiting an operation which had to be cancelled because of the trial.

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Jailing Blood, the judge told him: “You inflicted appalling acts of abuse for your own sexual gratification.

“I am sure you don’t need me to tell you the appalling effects of such offending on people who have suffered this type of abuse.

“We have heard, and I don’t doubt, that with regard to your own daughters and your own family, you were a very good father.

“The fact it took over 30 years for these different children to come forward and tell their stories, and the effect it has had on their lives, shows how the offences you committed have been a constant presence in their lives.

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“You are 69 years old now. I know you have a serious medical condition, and I am asked to bear in mind your age.

“I do; but I cannot pass a more lenient sentence because the offences were committed a long time ago.

“You could have pleaded guilty to these matters but chose not to, therefore putting them through the further ordeal of giving evidence during this trial.

“If you had accepted responsibility you could have prevented that.”

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She added: “It takes enormous reserves of courage for people to come forward and tell about these intensely personal matters which had a devastating effect on their lives.

“I hope your conviction will help bring them to a stage where their lives are no longer dominated by the abuse you subjected them to.”

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