PETER CROWD SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR ABUSING BLIND BOY IN KETTERING

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community, Peter Croad, aged 68, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 12 years after being found guilty of subjecting a vulnerable young boy to repeated sexual abuse nearly three decades ago. The incident took place at Rushton Hall, a specialized educational institution located near Kettering, where Croad was employed as a house parent during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

According to court proceedings, the victim, who has been blind since birth, was only 10 years old at the time of the abuse. The jury convicted Croad of multiple serious charges, including rape, sexual assaults, indecent acts, and gross indecency. The court heard that Croad had groomed the young boy over a period of time, gaining his trust before carrying out the assaults.

The court was informed that Croad would carry the boy from his dormitory to the toilets, where the abuse would take place. The victim’s identity remains protected to shield him from further trauma. It was revealed that after leaving Rushton Hall in 1981, Croad attempted to have the boy transferred to a different school, seemingly to continue the abuse under the guise of a new environment.

Croad denied all allegations, claiming mistaken identity, but the jury found him guilty by majority verdicts on six counts, including indecent assault, gross indecency, and a serious sexual assault. The judge, Charles Wide QC, condemned Croad’s actions, stating, “You singled him out for special attention. The modern word for it is grooming and you secured his silence by terrifying this little boy, telling him he would not be believed and it was his fault, when it was yours.”

The case was handled with the cooperation of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, which managed Rushton Hall at the time. The institute worked closely with law enforcement authorities during the investigation, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from such predatory behavior. Rushton Hall, which has since been converted into a luxury hotel, remains a stark reminder of the dark history associated with the institution and the importance of safeguarding children from abuse.