JAMES READING: PLYMOUTH AND OKEHAMPTON PAEDOPHILE FUGITIVE CAUGHT AND JAILED

In a significant development in the fight against child abuse within military youth organizations, James Reading, a former Air Training Corps sergeant from Plymouth, has been finally apprehended and sentenced to a decade behind bars for heinous crimes committed against young cadets in Devon. Reading, who had been on the run for over two years, was located and detained in Bicester, Oxfordshire, earlier this week, bringing closure to a lengthy and complex investigation.

Reading’s criminal activities came to light after allegations surfaced that he had sexually assaulted multiple girl cadets during his time as a non-commissioned officer in charge of an ATC squadron based in Okehampton. The incidents reportedly occurred during unofficial parties held at the squadron’s hut, where the sergeant exploited his position of authority to target vulnerable teenagers. These gatherings often involved alcohol consumption, with Reading going to lengths to conceal his activities by covering the windows with bin bags, creating a clandestine environment for his assaults.

He was accused of abusing at least three young girls, aged 14 to 15, with one victim recounting that Reading had told her she might be promoted if she participated in night exercises with him. The abuse reportedly took place during sleepovers and night exercises, with Reading inviting boys to the parties but then sending them away on errands or into separate rooms to isolate his victims. One particularly disturbing incident involved Reading offering a girl £50 to touch her chest, an act that was interrupted when a female cadet burst into the hut’s kitchen and discovered him with a topless, terrified 14-year-old girl.

Despite denying eight charges of sexual activity with a child or inciting a child to engage in sexual acts, Reading was found guilty in his absence at Exeter Crown Court in December 2012. The court proceedings revealed that he had assaulted a 14-year-old girl during a sleepover organized at the ATC hut on the eve of a Remembrance Day parade, and had also attempted to exploit another girl by promising her a promotion. The jury also acquitted him of charges related to a 16-year-old cadet, believing he may have thought she consented, and of an unrelated rape charge involving a former girlfriend.

Judge Erik Salomonsen, who presided over the case, emphasized the importance of trust placed in the ATC by the community and the responsibility of adults to uphold high standards, especially when children are involved. He condemned Reading’s actions, describing him as a dangerous individual with an unhealthy interest in young girls, who had manipulated his role to satisfy his selfish desires regardless of the harm caused. The judge highlighted that Reading’s misconduct was particularly egregious given his position of authority and the environment of trust that the ATC is supposed to foster.

Following his conviction, Reading, aged 37 and residing on Knighton Road in Plymouth, was sentenced to ten years in prison, with an additional four-year extended license period. He was also banned from having any unsupervised contact with children indefinitely. The authorities have launched an international manhunt, with police suspecting that Reading may have fled to France, and are working with international agencies to locate him. Detective Constable Chris Amey confirmed that efforts to apprehend Reading are ongoing both within the UK and abroad, and that there may be a possibility of involving Crimewatch to aid in his capture.

The Air Training Corps, which is part of the Royal Air Force’s cadet force, plays a vital role in promoting aviation interests and leadership skills among young people across the UK. It comprises over 900 squadrons within 36 wings and six regions, aiming to foster qualities of adventure, citizenship, and discipline. The organization offers cadets opportunities to fly aircraft, participate in camps, engage in sports, and explore various technical and creative pursuits. However, the case of James Reading has cast a shadow over the organization’s reputation, prompting calls for stricter oversight and safeguarding measures to prevent such abuses from occurring in the future.