KENNETH AND THOMAS PARKER SENTENCED IN WARWICKSHIRE FOLLOWING HISTORIC ABUSE CASES

In January 2014, Thomas Parker, aged 59 and formerly residing in Quillan, France, was sentenced to 28 years in prison by Warwick Crown Court for two historic rapes and an indecent assault. This follows his conviction which confirms his involvement in offences dating back over three decades.

The case originated from a series of allegations involving a six-year-old girl from the Midlands, with the twins implicated in the past. During the trial, Thomas Parker was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault committed in 1980, whereas his twin brother, Kenneth, 58, of St Leonards-on-Sea, was acquitted of the indecent assault charge after the jury determined he was incarcerated at the time of the offences. Nevertheless, Kenneth was convicted in 2005 of child indecency offences, receiving a three-year prison sentence.

The prosecution highlighted that the offences took place when both twins resided in Nuneaton. The victim only reported the abuse earlier this year, despite having told others previously. Prosecutor Anthony Potter described her detailed recollections, noting she remembered Thomas Parker distinctly as a ginger-haired man with tattoos and described feeling fear and menace during the incidents.

Thomas Parker has prior convictions, including a 1998 conviction for indecent assault, which resulted in a four-year jail term. Meanwhile, Kenneth had served three years after a 2005 conviction for child indecency.

The twins became internationally wanted in 2011 after breaching conditions of their sex offenders’ register. They were tracked to France, where they were eventually extradited back to the UK. Both had previously been jailed for failing to notify authorities about their travel plans—Kenneth for two years and Thomas for 22 months.

Histories of their criminal behavior include arrests and convictions in France, linked to their time in the French Foreign Legion and subsequent employment as purported builders in Quillan. They are believed to have joined the Legion before adopting false identities.

In 2012, Charles Knights of charity Kidscape expressed concern over Kenneth Parker’s freedom, noting it was troubling that such a high-risk offender was seen in public parks and playgrounds near children, despite monitoring arrangements.

Kenneth Parker was observed frequenting Brighton, where he spent time in the Royal Pavilion gardens, gazing at young children and mothers. He was allowed out of the halfway house from 8 am to 8 pm, living comfortably with a seafront view and reportedly studying EU law, believing he was wrongly treated and deported from France.

He and his brother spent approximately ten years on the run across Europe after violating their registration conditions, until a Sun investigation helped locate them in Quillan. French authorities arrested them, leading to their return to Britain.

Kenneth’s extensive tattoos and history of convictions reflect a long-standing criminal record, including charges of gross indecency with minors and multiple assaults.

Previously, in August 2011, Kenneth pleaded guilty to breaching the sex offenders’ register requirements and was sentenced to 22 months. His last address in Sussex connected him to Warwickshire, confirming his longstanding ties to the Midlands.

The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to monitor and apprehend individuals involved in child sexual offenses, even after years have passed. The court’s sentencing marks a significant step in addressing historic abuse allegations involving the Parker twins.