COLIN SHERLOCK'S SHOCKING REIGN OF ABUSE IN GUILDFORD, HINDHEAD, AND SURBITON

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Guildford, Hindhead, and Surbiton, Colin Sherlock, a 60-year-old tennis and football coach, has been found guilty of multiple instances of sexual abuse involving young boys. This conviction comes more than two decades after Sherlock was initially jailed for similar offenses, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior that persisted over many years.

Sherlock’s latest conviction stems from an incident that took place over ten years ago, where he groomed a young student under his tutelage. The grooming process involved buying tennis clothing for the victim and paying his entry fees for various competitions, actions that served to build trust and manipulate the young boy. The victim eventually accepted a massage from Sherlock, which was a precursor to the assault that followed. Sherlock then carried out the sexual assault on a mattress in his flat, exploiting the victim’s trust and innocence.

Last week, Sherlock pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault, leading to his sentencing at Guildford Crown Court. The court handed down a ten-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, meaning Sherlock will not serve time unless he breaches certain conditions. Additionally, Sherlock was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a decade, restricting his activities and contact with minors. Tina Stewartson, the officer responsible for investigating the case, described Sherlock as “predatory” and emphasized that his actions had devastating effects, stating that he had “ruined the victim’s childhood.”

This recent conviction is a stark reminder of Sherlock’s long history of offending. Twenty-one years prior, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of indecent assault involving boys aged between 12 and 15. During that earlier case, prosecutors revealed that Sherlock had disclosed to police that he himself had been abused as a 16-year-old while working for British Rail in Wimbledon. He also admitted to engaging in oral sex with an older man in Surbiton.

Historical records show that Sherlock’s pattern of abuse dates back to 1979, when he was fined for indecent acts committed with children. His role as a coach in Guildford, where he worked with both football and tennis teams, provided him with access to young boys. Court proceedings revealed that Sherlock had made some of these boys lie on a couch at his flat, where he would touch their spines and even remove their boxer shorts. The judge, John Bull QC, described the offenses as extremely serious, asserting that only a custodial sentence was appropriate to serve justice.

In December 1997, Sherlock, then 40, pleaded guilty to seven charges of indecent assault on boys aged 12 to 15, committed over nearly a year from March 1996 to February 1997. Prosecutor Selwyn Shapiro detailed that Sherlock had told police about his own traumatic experiences as a young man, including being fondled by colleagues at Wimbledon and engaging in oral sex with an older man in Surbiton. Sherlock also admitted to indecent acts with children he took to watch trains at Frimley, which led to a conviction at Camberley Magistrates Court in August 1979, where he was fined for 16 offences of indecency.

Sherlock’s own account revealed that he had developed a mental barrier, described as a “steel or elastic band,” which he tested by pushing the muscles of young boys he encountered through his coaching roles. Court evidence indicated that he persuaded some boys to lie on a couch at his flat, where he would touch their spines with an instrument and sometimes remove their boxer shorts, claiming it was to test their muscles. Prosecutors argued that these acts were driven by his own sexual desires.

Defense attorney Kenneth Clarke argued that Sherlock was a man in need of treatment and that imprisonment would not prevent future offenses. He suggested that participation in a probation sexual offender program might be more effective in rehabilitating Sherlock and preventing further harm. However, Judge John Bull QC was unequivocal in his judgment, stating that the nature of Sherlock’s offenses—committed while he was trusted as a coach—was extremely serious. The judge emphasized that Sherlock’s actions betrayed the trust placed in him by parents and the community, and therefore, only a custodial sentence could serve justice. Consequently, Sherlock was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his repeated offenses, a sentence that underscores the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing danger he poses to society.