JOHN CHAMBERS AND ANDREW POLKEY SENTENCED IN NOTTINGHAM FOR PREDATORY CHILD SEX OFFENCES
In a significant case that highlights the bravery of victims and the persistence of law enforcement, Nottinghamshire detectives have detailed the lengthy investigation that led to the conviction and sentencing of two men for horrific child sex offences.John Chambers, aged 73, and 57-year-old Andrew Polkey, were both sentenced to a combined total of 26 years behind bars after a comprehensive investigation uncovered a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse against young boys in Nottingham.
The allegations revealed a chilling account of how the two men took turns exploiting a vulnerable boy over several years.
The abuse involved manipulation, grooming, and the use of drugs and alcohol to facilitate their acts, often inviting the boy to their respective residences.
This disturbing conduct painted a stark picture of predatory behavior.
John Chambers, who at one point was known locally as a minor celebrity due to his past as a guitarist with the Nottingham-based band Paper Lace, used his showbusiness status to build a false sense of trust with the victim more than three decades ago.
According to the evidence, Chambers's manipulation extended further when he introduced the boy to Andrew Polkey, a former band roadie, with whom he later took turns abusing the young victim for their own gratification.
The investigation initially began in 2017 when a man, now an adult, came forward to report suffering abuse at the hands of Chambers and Polkey during his adolescence.
However, the trail went cold after the victim chose not to proceed with a formal statement, causing the police to hold their inquiries temporarily.
It was only when the victim re-engaged with authorities two years later that progress was once again made.
Detective Sergeant Lee Kirk from Nottinghamshire Police explained, “As is often the case with non-recent allegations, this victim did not feel ready to share detailed information at first.
Once he reconnected with our team, his evidence was compelling and filled with forensic detail—covering Chambers's home, vehicles linked to his former band, and the grooming process.” The investigation then took a broader scope when further victims came forward, each revealing they too had been abused by Polkey.
The police subsequently identified additional victims through the evidence presented, which revealed that Polkey was also a perpetrator beyond the initial case.
The police acted swiftly once these new allegations surfaced.
Both men—Chambers from Crowley Close, Bilborough, and Polkey from Glade Hill Road, Arnold—were arrested in 2020.
During police interviews, they denied the allegations but eventually pleaded guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault.
Chambers admitted to eight assaults against one boy, while Polkey pleaded guilty to 17 counts involving two boys.
Their appearances in Nottingham Crown Court culminated in serious sentences: Chambers was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison, and Polkey received a 13-year sentence.
The court also imposed Sexual Harm Prevention Orders on each man to restrict their behavior post-release.
Adding to the case’s seriousness, a third man, 46-year-old Matthew Mardell of Glade Hill Road, pleaded guilty to two indecent assaults on a boy and received a suspended 20-month sentence.
Superintendent Natasha Todd, who leads public protection efforts at Nottinghamshire Police, commented on the case: “These men believed they could commit these heinous acts without consequence, but they underestimated the courage of their victims and the determination of our police force to bring them to justice.
Two of these offenders will now spend significant time in custody, which I hope offers some degree of solace to those they hurt.”
