ANTHONY PLACE OF RIPON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN YORK AND RIPON

In a case that has spanned several decades and involved serious allegations of child sexual abuse, Anthony Herbert Place, a 76-year-old retired deputy headteacher from Ripon, has been convicted of multiple historic charges. The offences, which date back over 30 years, include 11 counts of indecent assault involving a female victim, two counts of indecency with a child, and one additional count of indecent assault. The victim in this case is not identified as one of Place's former pupils, but the allegations pertain to incidents that occurred in the Ripon area and at various addresses, as well as during car journeys, between February 1977 and February 1984.

On Monday, November 17, at Teesside Magistrates Court, Judge Stephen Ashurst delivered the sentencing after a jury at York Crown Court found Place guilty of child sex abuse in May. The court sentenced him to a total of 18 months in prison, with some charges running concurrently—specifically, four counts of indecent assault with a female resulted in a 12-month sentence, while the remaining charges carried an 18-month term. In addition to his prison sentence, Place was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

However, the sentencing process was temporarily halted due to concerns about Place’s ability to attend court. When his case was called, Place was not present in the dock. His legal representative, Kirstie Watson, explained that he was in his car parked nearby and that the distance to the courthouse was too great for him to walk without assistance. She further stated that he required a wheelchair, which was not available at that moment, and that he could only walk short distances with the aid of a stick, with significant difficulty navigating stairs. The court was informed that a recent medical report from October 21 did not confirm that Place was wheelchair-bound, and the judge noted that had this information been provided earlier, appropriate arrangements could have been made.

Judge Ashurst emphasized the seriousness of the case, considering Place’s lack of remorse, his continued denial of the allegations, and the long period over which the offences occurred. The impact on the victim was also a significant factor in his decision. Due to the logistical issues and the need for specialized facilities for disabled prisoners, the judge decided to adjourn the case. The new hearing was scheduled to take place at Teesside Magistrates Court, which has provisions for accommodating disabled defendants, on the following Monday.

Prior to this, in May 2014, Place was convicted by a jury of similar offences. The earlier verdict involved 14 counts of child sex abuse, some dating back to the 1970s when the victim was only seven years old. These charges included 12 counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14 and two counts of gross indecency. The offences took place at various locations in Ripon and during car journeys, spanning from February 1977 to February 1984. Following his conviction, Place was released on bail pending sentencing, which was scheduled for June 13 at York Crown Court. The case has garnered significant attention due to the nature and duration of the abuse, as well as the legal proceedings that have unfolded over the years.