FREDERICK SCANTLEBURY PLYMOUTH PENSIONER ABUSE SCANDAL REVEALED
In December 2014, a disturbing case involving Frederick Scantlebury, a 70-year-old resident of Plympton, Plymouth, came to light as he was sentenced to four years in prison for heinous sexual offenses against two young girls.The case, which spanned over a decade, revealed a pattern of abuse that left lasting scars on the victims and shocked the local community.
Scantlebury, a married man, was convicted on four counts after a jury at Plymouth Crown Court found him guilty of abusing two girls, with incidents occurring 11 years apart.
The court heard that the most serious assault had a profound impact on the girl involved, with Judge Graham Cottle describing her childhood as being “ruined” by the trauma inflicted upon her.
The judge emphasized the emotional toll of the abuse, stating, “You made her relive the experiences she suffered at your hands.
She speaks of the appalling consequences of having been abused by you.
She describes you, not surprisingly, as a sick and twisted man.
You have ruined her childhood.” During the trial, the court was informed that Scantlebury had denied three charges of sexual assault related to an incident in 2010.
The victim in that case testified that he had repeatedly assaulted her at his home over the course of the year, urging her to keep their “little secret.” Additionally, Scantlebury faced a charge of indecently assaulting another girl on a single occasion between September and November 1999, which he also denied.
Evidence presented during the proceedings revealed that Scantlebury, of Earls Mill Road, Plympton, had previously accepted a police caution for possessing indecent images of children.
Authorities found a staggering 7,100 images on his two laptop computers, highlighting a disturbing pattern of behavior.
The jury took five hours to reach a unanimous verdict, convicting him on all four counts.
In mitigation, Llewellyn Sellick, representing Scantlebury, argued that given his client’s age and concerns about his wife’s health, a suspended sentence might be appropriate.
A probation officer’s report described him as a low risk of re-offending, yet the judge was unconvinced.
Judge Cottle sentenced Scantlebury to four years in prison for the recent assaults, noting that a probation report indicated he still harbored “warped views” of child abuse.
The judge also acknowledged the long-term impact on the primary victim, warning that her life would be affected for a significant period and that such trauma can sometimes manifest in later life in severe ways.
As part of his sentence, Scantlebury was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register and was issued an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
This order restricts his access to children and grants police authority to monitor his computer activity for any abusive images.
The case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Scantlebury and highlights the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community awareness in protecting vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.
