March 2009 Multi-millionaire climate change scientist jailed for child abuse Professor Peter Rankilor, a respected climate change scientist, has been jailed for ten years for sexually abusing two young girls. The 66 year-old, who is a multi-millionaire, was arrested after a woman went to police to report he had molested her in the 1980s when she was a child. Police investigating the academic, who has written four books and 120 papers, discovered he had also abused another young girl. Rankilor, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, was found guilty of 24 serious sexual offences against children after a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester in January. He was jailed for 10 years on Friday. Judge Mushtaq Khokhar told him: “You robbed these girls of their innocence at a very early age. As far as the two victims are concerned, it is clear to me that both of them have been damaged because of the sexual abuse.” He added: “You’re someone who has had a distinguished career. You have health problems and at your age any term in prison is going to be difficult for you. “But you must realise that the matters of the offences and the number of them the only possible sentence I can impose is a custodial one.” Rankilor became one of the world’s leading experts in geosynthetics after combining academic work with a career as a consulting engineer and geologist. His academic qualifications included a Bachelor’s degree in geology from Nottingham University, a Master’s in Mining and Subsidence and a Doctorate in Civil Engineering from Salford University. He was a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Geological Society of London. Rankilor had also been the Managing Director of a consulting geotechnical practice for over 30 years and at the same time been a Visiting Professor at Bolton University. During his career he lectured for the Institution of Civil Engineers on its postgraduate training courses, which included Climate Change and its effects on Civil Engineering. He also travelled extensively across the world as part of studies into climate change. He abused the two girls in 1980 in the Altrincham area of Greater Manchester and was finally arrested in October 2006. Anthony Longworth, prosecuting, said: “The trial took place in January this year and he was convicted of all matters. The majority of the verdicts were unanimous .” “The crown understands that he is a man of substantial needs and a multi-millionaire when his victims are living in more straightened circumstances.” In mitigation, Peter Rawling said: “Clearly this is a sad case for all concerned and any sentence will be of a considerable length.” “You honour will know that Mr Rankilor is 66 years of age and he has correspondents from a doctor saying he is of ill health.” After the case Detective Constable Paul Hatton, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “Rankilor has left his victims scarred for life by the systematic abuse he subjected them to. “Not content with having taken advantage of their trust in childhood, he has now forced them to relive the abuse by refusing to admit to his crimes and putting them through this trial. “I just hope the result gives them some sense that justice has now been done.”