HARVEY FRANKS: BROMLEY AND CATHFORD PEDOPHILE EX-TEACHER SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEX OFFENCES
| Red Rose Database
Bromley Catford Rapist
In a series of disturbing revelations spanning several decades, Harvey Franks, a former teacher from Catford and Bromley, has been convicted of multiple historic child sex offences. The latest conviction relates to offences committed in the 1970s, with Franks, now aged 76, pleading guilty to three counts of gross indecency involving a boy under the age of 14 during that period. These offences came to light after a victim, who was only 11 years old at the time, reported the abuse to police in March of the previous year.
Following this report, the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse Investigation team launched a thorough inquiry. On April 6 of the same year, Franks was arrested and subsequently released on bail. He was formally charged on May 3. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that at the time of the offences, Franks was employed as a teacher at Sedgehill Secondary School in Catford. The victim recounted that Franks had subjected him to repeated abuse over a span of approximately 12 months.
In addition to these recent charges, Franks was already serving a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted in August 2016 for other non-recent sexual offences. His new convictions will be served consecutively, adding to his existing sentence.
Prior to these convictions, Franks’s criminal history includes a conviction from 2000 for indecent assault on a teenage boy, which resulted in a 30-month jail term. His criminal activities also extend to his involvement in football refereeing, where he used a false name, Bob Barber, to continue officiating youth matches despite being suspended by the Football Association (FA).
In August 2016, Franks was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of indecent assault—one from the 1970s and another from the 1990s. The court heard harrowing details of his abuse, including an incident in the late 1990s where he raped a 14 or 15-year-old boy who was enrolled in a referee course. Judge Adam Hiddleston condemned Franks’s breach of trust, emphasizing the profound impact on the victims, who suffered mental health issues, substance abuse, and social isolation as a result.
The court also heard from an anonymous victim who expressed relief at the lengthy sentence, stating, “He ruined my football career – and I guess he’s ruined quite a few lives. The sentence is longer than I expected and that’s a relief – the point is that he can’t do it to anyone else.” The victim encouraged others who have experienced similar abuse to come forward, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming control and seeking justice regardless of how much time has passed.
During the trial, Franks’s denial of the charges was met with a humiliating cross-examination, where victims were compelled to reveal their own past criminal behaviors and struggles with substance abuse. The judge highlighted Franks’s lack of remorse, noting his smirks and laughter during testimonies, and pointed out that he had harbored a sexual interest in teenage boys throughout his life. The court found him guilty of two counts of indecent assault and acquitted him of five other charges on July 11 and 12.
In a separate incident from March 2007, Franks, then aged 66, appeared in court after pleading guilty to obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception. It was revealed that he had changed his name to continue refereeing youth football matches, despite being previously convicted of indecent assault in 2000 and serving time for that offence. The court heard that Franks had been caught refereeing matches for Lewisham College, where he was paid £25 per game, under the alias Bob Barber. His continued involvement in youth football after suspension raised serious concerns about his potential risk to minors.
Judge Warwick McKinnon sentenced Franks to 60 hours of unpaid community service, citing concerns over the possibility of further offences given his criminal history. The judge also noted that there was no evidence of recent sexual misconduct but emphasized the importance of monitoring his activities. Franks also admitted to failing to notify the Sex Offenders’ Register of a change of name, further complicating his criminal record.
Throughout these proceedings, Franks’s actions have cast a long shadow over the communities of Bromley and Catford, highlighting the ongoing challenge of addressing historic abuse cases and ensuring justice for victims.
Following this report, the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse Investigation team launched a thorough inquiry. On April 6 of the same year, Franks was arrested and subsequently released on bail. He was formally charged on May 3. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that at the time of the offences, Franks was employed as a teacher at Sedgehill Secondary School in Catford. The victim recounted that Franks had subjected him to repeated abuse over a span of approximately 12 months.
In addition to these recent charges, Franks was already serving a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted in August 2016 for other non-recent sexual offences. His new convictions will be served consecutively, adding to his existing sentence.
Prior to these convictions, Franks’s criminal history includes a conviction from 2000 for indecent assault on a teenage boy, which resulted in a 30-month jail term. His criminal activities also extend to his involvement in football refereeing, where he used a false name, Bob Barber, to continue officiating youth matches despite being suspended by the Football Association (FA).
In August 2016, Franks was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of indecent assault—one from the 1970s and another from the 1990s. The court heard harrowing details of his abuse, including an incident in the late 1990s where he raped a 14 or 15-year-old boy who was enrolled in a referee course. Judge Adam Hiddleston condemned Franks’s breach of trust, emphasizing the profound impact on the victims, who suffered mental health issues, substance abuse, and social isolation as a result.
The court also heard from an anonymous victim who expressed relief at the lengthy sentence, stating, “He ruined my football career – and I guess he’s ruined quite a few lives. The sentence is longer than I expected and that’s a relief – the point is that he can’t do it to anyone else.” The victim encouraged others who have experienced similar abuse to come forward, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming control and seeking justice regardless of how much time has passed.
During the trial, Franks’s denial of the charges was met with a humiliating cross-examination, where victims were compelled to reveal their own past criminal behaviors and struggles with substance abuse. The judge highlighted Franks’s lack of remorse, noting his smirks and laughter during testimonies, and pointed out that he had harbored a sexual interest in teenage boys throughout his life. The court found him guilty of two counts of indecent assault and acquitted him of five other charges on July 11 and 12.
In a separate incident from March 2007, Franks, then aged 66, appeared in court after pleading guilty to obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception. It was revealed that he had changed his name to continue refereeing youth football matches, despite being previously convicted of indecent assault in 2000 and serving time for that offence. The court heard that Franks had been caught refereeing matches for Lewisham College, where he was paid £25 per game, under the alias Bob Barber. His continued involvement in youth football after suspension raised serious concerns about his potential risk to minors.
Judge Warwick McKinnon sentenced Franks to 60 hours of unpaid community service, citing concerns over the possibility of further offences given his criminal history. The judge also noted that there was no evidence of recent sexual misconduct but emphasized the importance of monitoring his activities. Franks also admitted to failing to notify the Sex Offenders’ Register of a change of name, further complicating his criminal record.
Throughout these proceedings, Franks’s actions have cast a long shadow over the communities of Bromley and Catford, highlighting the ongoing challenge of addressing historic abuse cases and ensuring justice for victims.