PONTEFRACT FOSTER CARE ABUSERS CRAIG FAUNCH AND IAN WATHEY SENTENCED IN LEEDS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Pontefract and the surrounding areas, two men, Craig Faunch, aged 32, and Ian Wathey, aged 41, were convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed while acting as foster carers. The crimes, which spanned over a period of nearly two years, involved the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable boys placed in their care, revealing a grave failure of social services and raising serious questions about safeguarding procedures.

Both men, who had been approved as foster carers by Wakefield Council in July 2003, began abusing their positions of trust shortly after their approval. The victims, boys from troubled backgrounds, were targeted by the couple for their own sexual gratification. The abuse came to light after a mother discovered disturbing images of her eight-year-old twins in the toilet while they were under the care of Faunch and Wathey in November 2003. Shockingly, social services officials initially accepted the couple’s explanation that the images were intended to embarrass the children into closing the toilet door, dismissing the incident as naive and silly.

Despite the discovery, authorities failed to take immediate action, and the photographs were subsequently lost, allowing the abuse to continue until January 2005. During this period, the offenders engaged in further disturbing behavior. Wathey encouraged a child with Asperger’s Syndrome to watch sexual activity on a gay pornographic video, while Faunch abused another young boy with a troubled background who had been in their care for only a few weeks. The judge overseeing the case, Sally Cahill, QC, condemned their actions, emphasizing the depth of their betrayal and the harm inflicted.

Legal proceedings revealed that police investigations were initiated only after one victim confided to a woman that he had been touched on three separate occasions and had repeatedly showered afterward. Additionally, a 14-year-old boy with special needs came forward, revealing he too had been victimized by the pair. The court heard that Faunch had used a camcorder to film naked eight-year-old boys in the shower, leading to charges of making indecent images of children. He was also convicted of five counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old boy. Wathey faced charges of sexual activity with a 14-year-old and encouraging a child to watch sexual acts, though he was cleared of two other similar charges.

Both men, residents of Pontefract in West Yorkshire, were sentenced to significant prison terms. Faunch received a six-year sentence, while Wathey was sentenced to five years. They were both ordered to register as sex offenders and are permanently banned from working with children. Recognizing the severity of their betrayal, Judge Cahill described their abuse as the most horrible breach of trust and ordered an extended three-year period of license following their release, citing the ongoing risk they pose to children. The court also highlighted the long-lasting impact of their actions, noting that at least one of the victims would carry the scars of this abuse for life.

Both defendants had denied the allegations during the trial, but the evidence presented was compelling enough to secure convictions. The case has prompted calls for a review of safeguarding protocols and has cast a shadow over the foster care system in the region, underscoring the importance of vigilance and rigorous oversight to protect vulnerable children from predators hiding behind trusted roles.