ALAN ASTLE SENTENCED IN BIRMINGHAM FOR ABUSE IN BILLLESLEY AND NANPEAN
| Red Rose Database
Billesley Nanpean Sexual Abuser
In a case that has spanned decades and involved multiple victims, Alan Astle, aged 65 and residing in Genville Meadows, Nanpean, has been convicted of serious sexual offenses committed in the Birmingham area, specifically in Billesley, during the 1960s, and later in the 1980s. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that has left lasting scars on the victims and has prompted widespread outrage.
Astle’s criminal history includes seven charges of indecent assault, to which he pleaded guilty on the day he was scheduled to stand trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The charges stem from offenses committed when he was living in Birmingham’s Billesley district, involving three young girls in the 1960s, and an additional victim nearly 20 years later. It was also disclosed that Astle had previously admitted to two similar offenses against one of the girls, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.
In a separate case at Warwick Crown Court, Astle was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for offenses committed in the 1980s, which was to run consecutively with a 12-month sentence for the earlier offenses. The court also mandated that Astle register as a sex offender for life and disqualified him from engaging in any paid or unpaid work involving children. These measures underscore the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
One of Astle’s victims, who has chosen to remain anonymous for her own protection, expressed her profound outrage at the leniency of the sentencing. She described the emotional and psychological toll the abuse has taken on her, stating, “He has left me with scars that I cannot even begin to describe.” She recounted the long and painful process of investigation, which took two years, forcing her to revisit traumatic memories repeatedly. Her words conveyed a sense of devastation, as she explained, “The whole thing has just ruined my life. It has put a great big dirty cloud above it.”
Despite her suffering, she emphasized her gratitude for her supportive family, including her husband and two sons, but admitted that the memories continue to haunt her daily. She suffers from depression, agoraphobia, and panic attacks, conditions she believes will persist for the foreseeable future. Her decision to speak out was motivated by a desire to help other potential victims come forward, fearing that there may be others still silent. “One of my main concerns is that there could be other victims out there,” she said. “They may not want to come forward but if they read this they may not feel so isolated.”
During the court hearing, Judge Robert Orme addressed Astle directly, noting his guilty plea to multiple counts of indecent assault spanning several years. The court was informed that between 1963 and 1967, when Astle was aged 17 to 20, he engaged in “serious indecent acts” against three young girls. Prosecutor Raj Punia detailed the disturbing nature of the offenses, including an incident where Astle, then a teenager, sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl he was babysitting while her parents were away. Other victims included a nine-year-old girl on a swing in her backyard, whom he pushed and then assaulted, and a third girl also aged seven, whom he assaulted after calling her into his bedroom during a family visit.
Astle’s threats and manipulative tactics were also highlighted, with one victim recalling his words, “Don’t struggle; you’ll like this,” and his warning that he would kill her if she told anyone. These incidents remained unreported for years, as victims were discouraged from speaking out. When the third girl confided in her mother about the abuse, she was told to be cautious about what she said, which led to her silence. It was only after another victim finally reported the abuse last year that police became involved.
Upon arrest, Astle initially responded with “no comment” and later denied any sexual contact, denying the allegations altogether. The court heard that his last known victim, now in her forties, continues to live with the trauma inflicted by his actions. Judge Orme remarked that, although the effects of his conduct towards the three young girls in the 1960s do not appear to be as severe as those experienced by the woman he assaulted in the 1980s, the impact on her remains profound. The judge’s sentencing reflects the gravity of Astle’s crimes and the enduring pain caused to his victims.
Astle’s criminal history includes seven charges of indecent assault, to which he pleaded guilty on the day he was scheduled to stand trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The charges stem from offenses committed when he was living in Birmingham’s Billesley district, involving three young girls in the 1960s, and an additional victim nearly 20 years later. It was also disclosed that Astle had previously admitted to two similar offenses against one of the girls, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.
In a separate case at Warwick Crown Court, Astle was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for offenses committed in the 1980s, which was to run consecutively with a 12-month sentence for the earlier offenses. The court also mandated that Astle register as a sex offender for life and disqualified him from engaging in any paid or unpaid work involving children. These measures underscore the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
One of Astle’s victims, who has chosen to remain anonymous for her own protection, expressed her profound outrage at the leniency of the sentencing. She described the emotional and psychological toll the abuse has taken on her, stating, “He has left me with scars that I cannot even begin to describe.” She recounted the long and painful process of investigation, which took two years, forcing her to revisit traumatic memories repeatedly. Her words conveyed a sense of devastation, as she explained, “The whole thing has just ruined my life. It has put a great big dirty cloud above it.”
Despite her suffering, she emphasized her gratitude for her supportive family, including her husband and two sons, but admitted that the memories continue to haunt her daily. She suffers from depression, agoraphobia, and panic attacks, conditions she believes will persist for the foreseeable future. Her decision to speak out was motivated by a desire to help other potential victims come forward, fearing that there may be others still silent. “One of my main concerns is that there could be other victims out there,” she said. “They may not want to come forward but if they read this they may not feel so isolated.”
During the court hearing, Judge Robert Orme addressed Astle directly, noting his guilty plea to multiple counts of indecent assault spanning several years. The court was informed that between 1963 and 1967, when Astle was aged 17 to 20, he engaged in “serious indecent acts” against three young girls. Prosecutor Raj Punia detailed the disturbing nature of the offenses, including an incident where Astle, then a teenager, sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl he was babysitting while her parents were away. Other victims included a nine-year-old girl on a swing in her backyard, whom he pushed and then assaulted, and a third girl also aged seven, whom he assaulted after calling her into his bedroom during a family visit.
Astle’s threats and manipulative tactics were also highlighted, with one victim recalling his words, “Don’t struggle; you’ll like this,” and his warning that he would kill her if she told anyone. These incidents remained unreported for years, as victims were discouraged from speaking out. When the third girl confided in her mother about the abuse, she was told to be cautious about what she said, which led to her silence. It was only after another victim finally reported the abuse last year that police became involved.
Upon arrest, Astle initially responded with “no comment” and later denied any sexual contact, denying the allegations altogether. The court heard that his last known victim, now in her forties, continues to live with the trauma inflicted by his actions. Judge Orme remarked that, although the effects of his conduct towards the three young girls in the 1960s do not appear to be as severe as those experienced by the woman he assaulted in the 1980s, the impact on her remains profound. The judge’s sentencing reflects the gravity of Astle’s crimes and the enduring pain caused to his victims.