SOUTHAMPTON COUPLE RICHARD TOWNSEND AND MARK METCALFE SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
A couple from Southampton, Richard Townsend and Mark Metcalfe, have been sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing young boys.Richard Townsend (pictured right) even recorded his partner, Mark Metcalfe, performing a sex act on one of their victims, who is believed to have been in his mid-teens.
The pair also repeatedly sexually abused two boys under the age of 16 between 1998 and 2005.
During the trial, the court heard that one of their victims took his own life earlier this year, with the stress caused by the investigation being cited as a possible contributing factor.
Both Townsend and Metcalfe denied any sexual activity involving children.
However, Townsend, 57, an accountant by profession, was found guilty of 14 counts related to child sex offenses after the three-week trial at Southampton Crown Court.
In the same trial, 56-year-old Metcalfe was convicted of three charges, including two counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault.
On sentencing, Townsend received an 18-year prison term plus an extended five-year sentence.
Following the sentencing, the victim's family expressed their relief, stating they felt justice had been served.
They commented, “This is the best thing that could have happened because nothing is going to bring him back.” The family also shared that, after revealing what had happened, the victim remained positive, stating, “He wanted to go into schools and tell children that if it has happened to you then you need to tell someone because they will believe you.” Earlier this week, both Townsend and Metcalfe, residents of Copsewood Road, Southampton, were found guilty during a court hearing.
Townsend was convicted on four counts of indecent assault of a child, five counts of multiple incidents of indecent assault, one count of indecency with a child, one count of assault by penetration of a child, one count of rape of a child, and two counts of sexual assault of a child.
Metcalfe was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.
The investigation was conducted by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
NCA operations manager Graham Ellis described the case as “deeply harrowing,” emphasizing the bravery of the victims who came forward.
He stated, “It takes immense courage to come forward, and the victims in this case have been incredibly brave in doing so.
The NCA and our law enforcement partners are relentless in our pursuit of child sex offenders whose actions wreck so many lives.
We have no greater priority than protecting children from sexual abuse.”
