PATRICK ELKIN AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IN STOKE-ON-TRENT AND STAFFORDSHIRE
A man previously serving as a soldier from Stoke-on-Trent has been sentenced to prison after a disturbing case of child abuse was brought to light.Patrick Elkin, aged 64, whose criminal behavior remained hidden until two young victims courageously disclosed their traumatic experiences to their parents, has been convicted of grooming and sexually assaulting two school-aged children.
Elkin, who is currently declared bankrupt after amassing a debt of approximately £41,000, served in the military, including deployments in Northern Ireland and during the First Gulf War.
His background as a former tank commander did little to overshadow the gravity of his crimes, which prompted his subsequent arrest and official charges.
Following a detailed court hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Elkin was sentenced to four years in prison for the offences.
The court heard that his actions had a profound and lasting impact on his young victims, whose bravery in speaking out was noted by the judge.
The court proceedings revealed that Elkin’s arrest occurred on December 18, 2020.
The police were alerted after the children’s statements brought their ordeal into public record.
Elkin, who lives in Longbrook Avenue, Blurton, was charged with multiple counts including sexual activity with a boy under 16 and two counts of sexual assault involving a girl under 13.
According to testimony presented in court, one of the boys recounted that Elkin had touched his private parts on several occasions, but the abuse ceased when the boy explicitly expressed his discomfort by sending Elkin a message indicating he did not like what was happening.
In a statement read aloud during the hearing, the young boy conveyed his feelings of anger and advised that he would consider hitting Elkin if given the chance, highlighting the depth of his distress.
The other victim, a girl, reported experiencing multiple inappropriate touches, including a specific incident where Elkin squeezed her breasts.
Prosecutor Tom Sherrington explained that the girl was worried that Elkin might have done the same to others or could potentially do so again in the future.
The mother of this girl expressed her outrage, describing Elkin as a “monster.” She emphasized that her daughter’s trauma and the violation of her innocence could never be forgiven, underlining the severity of Elkin’s actions.
Elkin’s defense lawyer, Barry White, confirmed that his client had no previous criminal record and accepted full responsibility for his actions.
White expressed that Elkin felt genuine remorse and shame over what had occurred.
The lawyer also pointed out that Elkin had not contested the charges and recognized the impact of his crimes on the victims.
He further explained that Elkin was currently suffering health issues and had recently gone bankrupt, which compounded his difficulties.
During his plea hearing, White requested the court to consider suspension of the sentence, emphasizing that Elkin’s incarceration would lead to the loss of all his possessions and that his health issues should be taken into account.
However, Judge Graeme Smith was clear in his statement, condemning Elkin’s betrayal of his victims’ innocence.
The judge noted that the children showed considerable bravery in coming forward and that Elkin’s actions had inflicted deep, lasting scars on their lives.
Elkin was consequently ordered to serve two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release.
Moreover, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registered on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
Commenting on the case, Detective Constable Tracy Adams, from Staffordshire Police’s Child Protection and Exploitation Team (CPET), praised the victims’ courage in reporting their abuse.
She expressed satisfaction that justice had been served and encouraged others who might have suffered similar ordeals to come forward without fear, assuring that law enforcement would provide full support to help bring offenders to justice.
