PHILIP BLANCH LOWESTOFT GOLF CLUB SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED IN SURREY

In September 2020, Philip Blanch, a man residing on Belaugh Avenue in Lowestoft, was convicted of multiple historical sexual offences committed against a young boy in Runnymede, Surrey, during the years 1975 to 1977. The court proceedings revealed that at the time of the assaults, the victim was between 12 and 13 years old. Blanch was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court to serve a total of 24 months in prison for each count, with all sentences to run concurrently. However, the sentence was suspended for a period of 24 months, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offence within that period. Additionally, Blanch was subjected to an electronically monitored four-month curfew from 7 pm to 7 am and was ordered to pay court costs amounting to £1,500.

The court also heard that Blanch had a long history of sexual offences, including 11 other convictions related to similar crimes against young boys in the Runnymede borough, spanning from the early 1960s through to 1980. These offences included three counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault, for which he was convicted following a trial at Guildford Crown Court in November 2014. As a result of that trial, Blanch received a sentence of 40 months in prison and was placed on the Sexual Offenders Register for life.

Further back in January 2015, Blanch, then aged 79, was sentenced to three years in prison after a jury found him guilty of repeatedly abusing a schoolboy caddie over a period of four years, starting when the boy was just 11 years old. The victim, who is now an adult, bravely came forward to contact police, leading to Blanch’s conviction. The abuse took place after Blanch, a golfer, invited the boy to caddie for him at his local golf club near Woking, Surrey, in exchange for pocket money. Over the course of four years, Blanch subjected the boy to repeated sexual abuse, threatening him that if he ever reported the crimes, both he and his sister would be taken into care. The victim described Blanch as a 'monster' who had devastated his life, stating in a court statement, 'He took away my childhood.' The victim also expressed that the trauma led to multiple suicide attempts, criminal behavior, and difficulties in emotional expression, despite having a high IQ of 157.

Blanch’s convictions from that trial included multiple counts of indecent and sexual assault, with sentences ranging from two to four years, all to be served concurrently. The court was told that Blanch had taken the boy on trips, abused him in the car, and bought him gifts. The defense argued for a suspended sentence, citing Blanch’s age, poor health—including diabetes and heart disease—and his wife’s frailty, as well as his remorse and treatment since previous convictions. However, Judge Peter Moss emphasized the severe psychological harm inflicted on the victim, stating that only immediate imprisonment was appropriate. The judge highlighted that Blanch exploited the boy’s vulnerability, grooming him and causing lifelong trauma. The court also noted that Blanch’s wife was an innocent victim of his actions.

In addition, in November 2014, Blanch pleaded guilty to three indecent assaults and was convicted of three other similar offences committed in Surrey during the 1970s. He was acquitted of three charges of gross indecency with a boy under 14 and four charges of rape, with several other charges dropped. The court scheduled his sentencing for January 2, and he remains on bail until then. Blanch’s criminal history includes convictions from 1965 and 1980 for similar offences, and he was arrested in April 2013 in a public house, which led to the current charges. Throughout the proceedings, Blanch’s actions and the impact on his victims have been a stark reminder of the long-lasting damage caused by such predatory behaviour.