PAUL TUPPER, FORMER FOOTBALL CLUB VOLUNTEER, JAILED IN CROYDON FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF BOYS

In September 2008, Paul Tupper, a 59-year-old former football club volunteer from Wallington, was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing several young boys.

Croydon Crown Court heard that Tupper exploited his position within Croydon football club to carry out a total of 16 sexual assaults over the years. Prosecutor Mr. Christopher Stimpson revealed that the offences dating back to 1977 included an incident where a now 38-year-old man was assaulted at Tupper’s caravan.

The court was also told that when the victim was around 11 or 12, Tupper offered to help him with a CB radio and touched him again. Mr. Stimpson stated, “The court heard Tupper told the boy he had contacts with Crystal Palace football club.”

Further allegations detailed that Tupper exposed himself to the same boy in a changing room—who then realized the door had been locked. The prosecutor added, “Within two months of getting to know another soccer enthusiast, Tupper was kissing him and giving him a lift to training sessions. He later got the boy to clean his van and indecently assaulted him while he was doing so.”

Police inquiries led to two more boys coming forward. One, aged eight, was threatened by Tupper that he would cut his penis off if he told anyone; another was taken to various caravan sites by Tupper.

During the sentencing hearing, the public gallery was filled with relatives and some of Tupper’s victims, with tears seen as the facts were presented. At one point, the father of one of the six boys Tupper abused stormed out of the courtroom in anger.

As part of his sentence, Tupper was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders register for life, in addition to his prison term. Judge Nicholas Ainley stated, “I am firmly of the view that you are a man who constitutes a significant risk to the public. These offences have had a devastating effect on their young lives.”

It was also revealed that Tupper had a prior conviction for child assault in 1992, when he received a 12-month sentence for four offences committed while linked to a football club.

Tupper’s defense attorney, Miss Pauline Thompson, expressed remorse, telling the court that her client was genuinely sorry and had remarked, “I have done wrong; I know I have to pay for it.”