JEFFREY LAKE FROM ACCRINGTON AND LIVERPOOL JAILED IN AUSTRALIA FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Accrington and Liverpool, Jeffrey Lake, a 78-year-old retired police officer, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for a series of heinous child sex offences committed over three decades ago. The conviction follows a lengthy legal process that culminated in a trial at Preston Crown Court, after Lake was extradited from his residence in Queensland, Australia, where he had been living since 2002.

Lake’s departure to Australia appeared to be an attempt to evade justice for his past actions. It was only after one of his victims, a woman, entered a police station in Lancashire and disclosed that she had been sexually and physically abused by him during her childhood, that the investigation was reignited. The woman was subjected to extensive interviews, and as the inquiry expanded, a second individual came forward, revealing that he too had suffered abuse at Lake’s hands. This revelation prompted authorities to take decisive action, leading to Lake’s arrest in Peregian Springs earlier this year and his subsequent extradition back to the United Kingdom.

During the trial, Lake vehemently denied all allegations, asserting that he was “not of the persuasion” of someone who sexually abuses children. Despite his denials, the jury unanimously found him guilty of 20 charges, which included rape, buggery, indecency with a child, indecent assault, and child cruelty. The offences were said to have taken place primarily during the 1960s and early 1970s, when Lake was actively serving as a police officer in Accrington and Liverpool.

In delivering the sentence, Mr. Justice King described each offence as a “serious example” of sustained sexual and physical abuse. He emphasized the profound and lasting impact on the victims, noting that both had been deprived of reaching their full potential as adults. The judge highlighted that the victims had suffered from deep depression, had attempted suicide, and had been profoundly affected by the trauma inflicted upon them by Lake. The court was told that Lake showed “no contrition” or “remorse” for the damage he caused, which only compounded the severity of his sentence.

Lake was sentenced to 18 years for the rape of the female victim, with concurrent sentences for two other counts of rape. Additional offences resulted in concurrent sentences ranging from 18 months to 13 years. Both victims provided impact statements during the sentencing hearing. The female victim expressed her anguish, stating that Lake had taken pleasure in instilling fear in her, which prevented her from becoming the person she might have been. She lamented that she felt she had wasted her life and had never achieved her true potential, expressing feelings of anger and despair.

The male victim also shared his emotional scars, revealing that the abuse had diminished his confidence and hindered his ability to form meaningful adult relationships. Despite being an intelligent man, he admitted that he did not attend university and that his fear of emotional closeness persisted. He expressed a grim outlook on Lake’s future in custody, stating, “He will be happy that two lives will be ruined as a result of what he has done.”

In mitigation, lawyer Matthew Lawson requested that Lake’s age and ongoing health issues, including diabetes, be considered when determining the length of his imprisonment. He argued that a lengthy sentence might result in Lake’s death in prison, which was a factor to be taken into account. Mr. Justice King acknowledged Lake’s previous good character and unblemished record in the police force, which influenced the final sentencing decision. Lake was also disqualified from working with children and was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors unless explicitly approved by social services and the child’s guardians.

This case underscores the tragic consequences of abuse and the importance of justice, even many years after the offences occurred. The conviction of Jeffrey Lake serves as a stark reminder of the enduring scars inflicted by such crimes and the commitment of the justice system to hold offenders accountable, regardless of the passage of time.