KEITH FOWLER'S SHOCKING DOUBLE LIFE IN LEEDS AND PRESTON ENDS IN JAIL FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON SCHOOLGIRL

In a case that has stunned the communities of Preston, Penwortham, and Leeds, Keith Fowler, aged 68, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual assault offences involving a young girl. Fowler, who previously worked as a prison officer at HMP Garth in Leyland before retiring due to health issues in the late 1990s, led a secret and disturbing double life that only came to light through a series of suspicions and investigations.

Fowler resided in Preston but frequently traveled to Leeds on weekends, where he maintained a clandestine relationship with a girlfriend. It was during these visits that he committed the heinous acts against his young victim, who was just nine and ten years old at the time. The abuse was uncovered after the victim’s mother grew suspicious of Fowler’s behaviour and reported her concerns to a health visitor. Following this, the girl was questioned, and she disclosed the details of the abuse she had endured.

Despite his conviction, Fowler has denied the allegations, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial. He also served in the Army, adding to the complex background of a man now found guilty of serious sexual offences. The court proceedings revealed that Fowler was responsible for six separate sex assault offences, which he was convicted of at an earlier trial.

Kim, Fowler’s wife of many years, who is 53 years old and currently caring for their disabled son, expressed her disbelief and heartbreak over her husband’s conviction. Speaking from their family home on Weirden Close in Penwortham, she stated, “As far as I’m concerned I think he’s innocent. After so long, no one knew him better. I can’t get my head around it.” She admitted she did not attend the court sessions and claimed she was unaware of the full extent of her husband’s actions. “I didn’t go to court, I didn’t want to. I don’t know the whole story myself. I am just relying on him to tell me,” she said.

Kim reflected on their long-standing relationship, which began in 1977 when they met in South Africa. She was 18, and Fowler was 32. They married shortly after and moved to Preston, where they raised two children. Her current focus is on caring for their son, which she says has made the revelation even more devastating. “It has been such a shock. If I had only just met him, I could understand. I didn’t know anything at all until I got a knock on the door last year at 5am from the police,” she explained.

Despite her trust in her husband, Kim admitted her confusion and pain. “I believe him, what can I do? I have been married to him for so long. You get to know somebody. He didn’t change, he was the same person. I am still in shock. I might not have had time for it to sink in yet. He didn’t really go out a lot. I didn’t suspect anything. How could I not know?”

Legal representatives for Fowler, including his defense lawyer Andrew Lennon, acknowledged the jury’s verdict but emphasized that Fowler continues to deny the charges. Lennon stated, “He does accept the verdict of the jury but still denies the offences. Most men of his age would be looking forward to a more comfortable retirement and a sedentary way of life. He must now contemplate a lengthy prison sentence.”

Judge Guy Kearl, QC, addressed Fowler directly, describing the offences as extremely serious. He noted that Fowler would have faced an even longer sentence if not for his health issues, which the court took into account during sentencing. The case has left a lasting impact on the local communities, highlighting the disturbing reality of hidden lives and the devastating consequences of abuse.