DEREK SYKES ABUSE SCANDAL SHOCKS WESTON COYNEY: VICTIMS REVEAL HORROR AT STOKE-ON-TRENT COURT

In August 2018, a distressing case involving Derek Sykes, a pensioner from Weston Coyney, came to light at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, revealing the harrowing experiences of two women who were once young girls. Sykes, aged 69 at the time, faced serious allegations of indecent assault, with the court hearing that he had sexually abused the two victims during their childhood.

Despite the gravity of the charges—five counts of indecent assault—the court was informed that Sykes was not deemed fit to stand trial due to health reasons. Nevertheless, after a thorough examination of the evidence presented, a jury concluded that the allegations against him were substantiated, confirming that he had indeed committed the acts as described.

Sykes resided at Sprinkwood Grove in Weston Coyney, and his case drew significant attention due to the nature of the crimes and the age of the victims. The two women, now adults, bravely provided statements to the court, detailing the profound and lasting impact of Sykes’s actions on their lives.

One of the victims, in a statement read aloud during the proceedings, expressed her anger and frustration, stating: “He has carried on with his lies and is hiding behind a so-called illness. He is a calculating, manipulative, violent sexual predator. He should be locked away and caged like the animal he is.”

The second victim also delivered a heartfelt statement, describing the emotional toll the abuse had taken on her. She said: “The entire process has been physically and mentally exhausting and unbearable. I have found it so hard to trust people. This has impacted heavily on me. My quality of life has deteriorated. I am not as outgoing. I have had hours of counselling and meetings with the mental health team. I have struggled with depression and anxiety. I take sleeping tablets at night and have had a lot of time off work.”

In sentencing, the court imposed strict conditions on Sykes. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next five years and was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 for the remainder of his life.

Judge David Fletcher addressed Sykes directly, expressing the emotional toll of the case. He remarked: “The court has been engaged in hearing the case for the last week and a day. During the course of the case, there has been some of the most heart-rending evidence I have ever had to experience as a judge. You lied in the course of your discussions with the police. You should be thoroughly, thoroughly ashamed of your behaviour. It is truly appalling.”

The judge also acknowledged the profound impact on the victims, stating: “This has been a difficult case for all of us involved in it, and your two victims have to carry it with them for the rest of their lives.”

While Sykes was not sentenced to prison due to his health and the circumstances, Judge Fletcher expressed regret over the limitations of the legal system, saying: “You would have been going to prison today for a considerable number of years if these had been specific criminal proceedings. I can do no more than apologise for the inadequacies of the system.”