PAUL KIDD OF STALYBRIDGE: ROYAL SERVANT AND CHILD ABUSER SENTENCED IN MANCHESTER

Paul Kidd, a man with a long history of deception and abuse, has been sentenced to prison for his heinous crimes committed in and around Stalybridge, near Manchester. Kidd, who once served as a royal butler, was entrusted with the care of the British Royal Family for nearly a decade, including duties at Buckingham Palace and interactions with the Queen Mother. Despite his prestigious position and the respect he garnered from his royal service, Kidd led a disturbing double life as a serial child abuser spanning over 30 years.

His criminal activities came to light after police investigations were initiated following a revelation from a victim who had read a newspaper article penned by Kidd. The article, published on the tenth anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, included references that prompted the victim, now 41 years old, to come forward. He recounted that he was just 14 when Kidd first abused him after they met through a Citizens Band (CB) radio group. This revelation prompted a police raid on Kidd’s residence, a modest two-bedroom home in Stalybridge, where authorities uncovered nearly 19,000 indecent images and videos of children, highlighting the extent of Kidd’s depravity.

Further investigations revealed that Kidd had groomed at least one of his teenage victims by taking him for tea with the Queen Mother at Clarence House, a meeting that the Queen Mother was unaware of and which she did not condone. Kidd’s manipulation extended to other victims, some of whom he met through religious groups. To create a sense of comfort and trust, Kidd displayed autographed pictures of Manchester United players on his walls, a tactic to ease the children’s fears and foster a false sense of familiarity.

In court, Kidd, aged 55, was convicted of multiple charges, including indecent assault, sexual activity with a minor, and possession and creation of indecent images of children. The court heard that his abuse spanned from December 1974 to January 2008, involving three identified victims, though authorities suspect there may be more victims who have yet to come forward. Judge Mushtaq Khokhar sentenced Kidd to a minimum of six years in prison before he could be considered for parole, emphasizing the danger Kidd posed to young people.

During his time in royal service, Kidd claimed to have met and cared for three U.S. presidents, including Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. He was awarded the prestigious Most Noble Order of Merit by the then West German president during a state visit with the Queen in 1979, an honor bestowed on only 32 individuals worldwide. Kidd also reportedly worked closely with Princess Diana at Buckingham Palace in the months leading up to her wedding, adding a layer of complexity to his profile.

In 1985, Kidd left royal service due to a cancer scare. After recovering, he capitalized on his royal connections by charging up to £4,000 for after-dinner speeches, during which he recounted his experiences serving the Queen and Queen Mother. A source close to the case remarked, “Given that he has been behaving like this for 30 years, the likelihood is there could be many other victims out there who have not yet come forward. This man used his royal connections to impress and seduce young boys. To many, he appeared very urbane and charming but he hid a very dark secret indeed.”