RICK ASTLEY'S UNCLE DONALD CASSIDY INVOLVED IN CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN CHESTER

In June 2014, Chester Crown Court heard shocking revelations about Donald Cassidy, the 79-year-old uncle of pop star Rick Astley, admitting to being a predatory paedophile. Cassidy confessed to abusing a girl from the age of six, claiming she 'enjoyed it,' despite the court's evidence that he lured children to his garage to play inappropriate games like Doctors and Nurses and encouraged them to perform sex acts on each other.

The court was informed that Rick Astley, who is now 48 and still active in his music career, was sometimes present at Cassidy’s home along with other children, but he was never a victim of abuse. Originally, Astley was listed as a potential defense witness but was ultimately not called to testify.

Cassidy faced two charges of indecent assault on a girl aged between six and eight, committed in a caravan at his former residence in Warrington, Cheshire. He admits to these charges but denies nine other counts, including nine indecent assaults, two acts of indecency with a child, and two rapes on the same girl involving incidents from the 1970s.

The accused rejected allegations that he lured children into his garage and told them to remove their clothes during play. The girl, who testified, described being assaulted in various locations, including a parked car, the caravan, and a trailer outside Cassidy’s home from the age of six. She also claimed to have been raped in the caravan around age ten and in his bungalow, constructed on his property, when she was approximately 13, exclaiming, “That man ruined my life.”

Cassidy admitted to sexually abusing her by touching her and assaulting her on around six occasions. He stated, “I know I should not have done it. She sat on my knee and it just happened. She never complained. She accepted it as though she enjoyed it.”

Prosecutor Simon Mills described Cassidy as “a predatory paedophile,” to which Cassidy responded, “Probably, yes. Whatever sentence I get, I hold my hands up. I deserve it. But those other things never happened.”

Mr. Mills also noted that Cassidy is related to Rick Astley, clarifying that the singer will not serve as a prosecution witness. The trial remains ongoing.