CHRISTOPHER SKEAPING FROM BRACKNELL AND EAST MOLESEY JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a series of disturbing revelations and legal proceedings spanning several decades, Christopher Skeaping, aged 72, has been convicted and sentenced for heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors. His criminal activities are linked to a broader network of individuals involved in child exploitation, with connections to notorious groups and locations including Bracknell and East Molesey.

It was reported that Skeaping, a former racing driver and mechanic, indecently assaulted a 15-year-old boy during the 1980s. This assault occurred during his involvement with the now-infamous Paedophile Action for Liberation (PAL) and the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), organizations that openly campaigned for the decriminalization of sex with children. These groups, which have been linked to the late Jimmy Savile, sought to influence public policy by advocating for lowering the age of consent, effectively legalizing sexual activities with minors.

Skeaping, who previously resided in Hounslow, London, was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of one count of indecent assault. His criminal record is extensive; he has already served seven years for abusing teenage boys in separate incidents. The court heard that Skeaping was openly vocal about his sexual interests in young boys, a fact that was well known among his acquaintances and the victim involved in the recent case.

Judge Euan Ambrose, presiding over Skeaping’s trial at Bristol Crown Court, described the defendant as a former mechanic who had spoken candidly about his sexual preferences. The judge stated, “(The victim) said it was common knowledge that you were interested in boys sexually. He said that you spoke about the Paedophile Information Exchange, a now notorious organisation, and you spoke about it quite openly. He said you spoke quite openly about being into sex with boys, you couldn’t understand how it was considered a problem that older men would want to have sexual relationships with children. You used to express your views on this in a very crude manner.”

The court also revealed that Skeaping introduced his victim to Douglas Slade, a 75-year-old convicted of 13 child sex offences and sentenced to 24 years earlier this month. Slade, who was also associated with PAL and PIE, went on to abuse the same victim. Evidence presented in court indicated that Skeaping played a role in facilitating the abuse by connecting the victim with Slade.

Historical convictions against Skeaping include a 2010 sentence of five years for offences committed against a boy under 16 during the 1980s and 1990s, and a 2012 sentence of seven and a half years for offences against a boy under 16 in the 1970s. These convictions highlight a pattern of predatory behavior spanning several decades.

The Paedophile Information Exchange, established in 1974, was linked to the National Council for Civil Liberties and campaigned for the normalization of children’s sexuality. Its agenda included advocating for lowering the age of consent and providing support to adults involved in sexual acts with minors. The organization’s true aim was to promote the acceptance of sexual relationships between adults and children, disguising its sinister motives under the guise of civil liberties and sexual liberation.

Further details emerged during the trial of Douglas Slade, who boasted about his prominent role within PIE and operated a helpline offering advice to men seeking to abuse children. Slade, originally from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, fled to the Philippines in the 1980s, where he amassed wealth through a food supply business. However, he exploited the country’s poverty and corruption to continue his abuse of young boys, some as young as eight. Slade’s activities were brazen; he built a house overlooking a primary school in Angeles City, where he lured boys into his home and paid them for sex, often offering the equivalent of a pair of flip-flops as compensation.

In December 2014, Slade was arrested at his residence in Angeles City, just days after MailOnline exposed his long history of abusing boys and paying off officials to avoid arrest. His arrest marked a significant breakthrough in efforts to dismantle this network of child exploitation. Detective Sergeant Paul Melton of Avon and Somerset Police stated that investigations into Skeaping, Slade, and their associates suggest a wider network of men involved in child abuse, with more victims likely yet to come forward.

In a separate case, Skeaping’s earlier attempt to challenge his conviction was rejected in January 2012. Skeaping, then 67 and residing in East Molesey, Surrey, had been convicted of abusing a 12-year-old boy while living in Bracknell in the late 1980s. His conviction followed a lengthy investigation that uncovered his pattern of abuse dating back to the 1970s. Skeaping had previously served time for similar offences, including a five-year sentence in 2009 for offences against a boy under 16, and a seven-and-a-half-year sentence in 2012.

During his appeal, Skeaping argued that his conviction was unsafe, claiming that the trial judge failed to properly direct the jury regarding the evidence. However, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Owen, dismissed his appeal, affirming the validity of the original conviction. The judges noted that Skeaping had befriended the victim, often inviting him into his home to drink and watch pornography, and had openly expressed his sexual preferences, which over time led to consensual sexual activity. The court concluded that the evidence was sufficient to uphold the conviction, and Skeaping remains incarcerated for his crimes.

These cases underscore the persistent threat posed by individuals involved in child exploitation networks and highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement to bring such offenders to justice, protect victims, and dismantle these sinister organizations operating across various locations, including Bracknell, East Molesey, and beyond.