RAY SADLEY BEXLEYHEATH PAEDOPHILE ESCAPES PRISON SENTENCE DESPITE ABUSING TWO GIRLS

In a case that has spanned decades and involved courageous victims coming forward after years of silence, Ray Sadley, an 86-year-old man from Percy Road in Bexleyheath, was spared immediate imprisonment despite admitting to multiple serious crimes. The allegations against Sadley involve the sexual abuse of two young girls, incidents that occurred over a period of more than twenty years, primarily during the 1970s and 1980s.

According to court records and police reports, Sadley engaged in repeated acts of abuse at his residence in Bexleyheath as well as in a nearby park, taking advantage of his position of trust and the vulnerability of his young victims. The victims, whose ages ranged from just eight to fifteen years old at the time, were known to Sadley, which added a disturbing element of betrayal to the crimes. The emotional and psychological scars inflicted by Sadley's actions have persisted for over three decades, with the victims and their families bearing the long-lasting trauma.

Detective Constable Paul Harakis expressed his admiration for the victims' bravery, stating, “I commend the victims for their courage and commitment in this case. Sadler is a predatory paedophile who took advantage of children left in his care. The two victims have lived with the trauma and stress of what happened to them for over 30 years, and have shown remarkable courage in reliving events. This investigation shows that, regardless of the length of passage of time since offending, police will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”

The case was reopened after one of the victims came forward in January 2017, revealing that she had been abused as a child. This disclosure prompted police to investigate further, leading to the discovery of a second victim. Sadley was voluntarily interviewed by authorities on two occasions, first on February 7, 2017, and again on July 6, 2018. Following these interviews, Sadley was formally summoned to appear before Bromley Magistrates’ Court on January 7, 2019.

During the court proceedings, Sadley pleaded guilty to ten counts of indecent assault involving girls under the age of 16. The case was then transferred to Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing. On March 8, Sadley was handed an 18-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 20 months, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits another offence within that period. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a decade, a measure intended to monitor his activities and prevent further harm. This case underscores the importance of perseverance in justice, especially in cases involving historical abuse, and highlights the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to protect vulnerable individuals and hold offenders accountable, regardless of how much time has passed.