October 2008 ‘Predatory paedophile’ given indeterminate prison sentence A Cleethorpes man who befriended women in order to sexually abuse their daughters has been given an indeterminate prison sentence. Richard Phillips (46) was described as a “predatory paedophile” when he appeared at Warwick Crown Court. Phillips, of Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault, two of sexually assaulting a girl under-13 and one of assaulting a girl under-13 by penetration. He must serve a minimum of five years before being eligible for release. Darron Whitehead, prosecuting, told the court: “The defendant has sought the affections of single mums and then surreptitiously abused their children.” Over a period of more than a decade since the mid-90’s Phillips targeted and abused four girls whose average age was ten in the West Midlands.. “His confidence and level of abuse increased over time and, put bluntly, he became a predator paedophile,” said Mr Whitehead. Further charges of rape and attempted rape, which Philips continued to deny, were left to lie on the court file. Jailing him, Judge Coates told Phillips: “It is quite plain you have been targeting young children and ingratiating yourself with their mothers. It is quite clear you have groomed these children to commit sexual offences against them.”