MICHAEL DILLON JAILED IN LYDD FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILD AT CANTERBURY CROWN COURT
| Red Rose Database
Lydd Sexual Abuser
In April 2017, a distressing case unfolded at Canterbury Crown Court involving Michael Dillon, a 72-year-old resident of Sycamore Close in Lydd, who was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl. The victim, a girl just 10 years old at the time, displayed remarkable courage by coming forward to report the assaults after initially confiding in her teacher. Her testimony was read aloud by the prosecutor, revealing the profound impact of the abuse.
During the hearing, the girl addressed Dillon directly through her written statement, expressing her feelings about the ordeal. She stated, “I am sure that you will agree that sexual abuse is wrong and nobody should have to go through it. It shouldn’t be as common as it is, yet nobody expects it to happen to themselves. Well, I wasn’t expecting it at all – not at the age of 10. I could barely tie my own shoe laces let alone contemplate sexual abuse.”
It was revealed that the girl had the courage to report the incidents to her teacher after the abuse had occurred. Initially, Dillon denied the allegations, and friends who supported him believed his denials. However, the situation changed when Dillon began to confess to his sexual perversions, leading one of his friends to reconsider their support.
Michael Dillon was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual offences. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with the court ruling that he would not be eligible for automatic release after serving three years. Judge Heather Norton described Dillon as “an offender of particular concern,” emphasizing that he would only be released if the parole board deemed it safe for him to re-enter society.
Throughout the hearing, the victim sat with her mother and father, sharing her emotional testimony about the impact of the abuse. She described how revealing her experiences to her teacher was “one of the worst days of my life,” and expressed her fears that her life would never be the same. She admitted to feeling overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the memories, stating, “I like to think of myself as a strong person but there is only so much I can handle. Right now I am trying to erase the memories of what happened and make room for new ones. But I know deep down that will never happen and it is safe to say that I will never get the closure I need. I will have to come to terms with that… in time I will.”
Following Dillon’s removal to begin his sentence, Judge Norton privately spoke with the victim and her parents, offering support and reassurance. The case highlights the importance of speaking out against abuse and the courage of victims in seeking justice, even in the face of profound trauma.
During the hearing, the girl addressed Dillon directly through her written statement, expressing her feelings about the ordeal. She stated, “I am sure that you will agree that sexual abuse is wrong and nobody should have to go through it. It shouldn’t be as common as it is, yet nobody expects it to happen to themselves. Well, I wasn’t expecting it at all – not at the age of 10. I could barely tie my own shoe laces let alone contemplate sexual abuse.”
It was revealed that the girl had the courage to report the incidents to her teacher after the abuse had occurred. Initially, Dillon denied the allegations, and friends who supported him believed his denials. However, the situation changed when Dillon began to confess to his sexual perversions, leading one of his friends to reconsider their support.
Michael Dillon was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual offences. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with the court ruling that he would not be eligible for automatic release after serving three years. Judge Heather Norton described Dillon as “an offender of particular concern,” emphasizing that he would only be released if the parole board deemed it safe for him to re-enter society.
Throughout the hearing, the victim sat with her mother and father, sharing her emotional testimony about the impact of the abuse. She described how revealing her experiences to her teacher was “one of the worst days of my life,” and expressed her fears that her life would never be the same. She admitted to feeling overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the memories, stating, “I like to think of myself as a strong person but there is only so much I can handle. Right now I am trying to erase the memories of what happened and make room for new ones. But I know deep down that will never happen and it is safe to say that I will never get the closure I need. I will have to come to terms with that… in time I will.”
Following Dillon’s removal to begin his sentence, Judge Norton privately spoke with the victim and her parents, offering support and reassurance. The case highlights the importance of speaking out against abuse and the courage of victims in seeking justice, even in the face of profound trauma.