REX REED OF WOODBRIDGE: SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE AND BRAZEN DENIALS IN SUFFOLK

In October 1997, the community was rocked by the revelation of Rex Reed, a man with a once-prominent media career, who was convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of two 11-year-old girls. Despite his conviction, Reed has attempted to portray himself as a respected figure within his local area, specifically in the village of Campsea Ash near Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Reed, who previously worked as a scriptwriter for Jimmy Young's Radio Two show and served as a newsreader on Radio Four, pleaded guilty the previous year to five counts of indecent assault committed against the two young girls. His actions, which took place in the early 1990s, led to a prison sentence of 15 months. However, he was released after serving only seven months, raising questions about the justice process.

Following his release, Reed established a residence just a few miles from the scene of his crimes. From his modest rented home in Campsea Ash, he openly boasted to neighbors that he was a "pillar of the community," claiming that his past was a secret to most locals. His brazen attitude extended to his comments about children, where he controversially stated that "eleven-year-old girls can see sexual activity and brazen exposure of themselves as fun," and that they might even provoke sexual encounters if they are able to.

Adding insult to injury, Reed showed no remorse for his victims. Instead, he made inflammatory accusations suggesting that parents were partly responsible for encouraging child sexual exploitation. He argued that parents unwittingly contribute to the problem by allowing their daughters to wear provocative clothing, such as low-cut tops and revealing outfits, which he claimed incited sexual desires in offenders.

Remarkably, despite the severity of his crimes, police informed Reed that he was not required to register on the sex offenders' register. A letter from Suffolk Police’s Head of Administration of Justice clarified that, due to the elapsed time since his conviction and the sentence he received, registration was not necessary at this time.

Reed, who has also claimed to have been a failed actor and to have been considered for a role on Coronation Street, sought to profit from his sordid past by demanding a fee for interviews. He requested at least £5,000 for sharing details about his offenses, which he committed in 1990 and 1995. During a lengthy four-hour interview with a journalist, Reed boasted of friendships with notable figures such as the late Jack Howarth, who played Albert Tatlock on Coronation Street, and claimed to have worked alongside Bob Holness and John Suchet at the BBC.

He also asserted that he had experience in public relations, advising the Mayor of Gravesham, Kent, and working for Nuclear Electric at the Sizewell nuclear power station in Suffolk. However, throughout these conversations, Reed failed to express any genuine remorse for the harm inflicted upon his young victims. Instead, he primarily lamented the impact of his crimes on his own life, claiming that he had lost his house, his job, and his career, and was now left with no money. His attitude and statements have caused widespread outrage and concern within the community and beyond.