Roy Clarke died in hospital from natural causes in June 2006 April 2006 Pervert coach abused kids PAEDOPHILE swimming coach Roy Clarke was condemned to die behind bars yesterday after abusing kids for nearly SIXTY YEARS. Wicked Clarke, 79, was jailed for 12 years after he admitted attacks against five girls and three boys which began in 1944. A judge told the pervert, now wheelchair-bound due to chronic ill-health: In all probability you are going to die in prison. Clarke lured them into his trap by gaining a position of trust, said Nirmal Shant, prosecuting. She said: Swimming lessons gave him access to the children. They would visit him at his home. They would do odd jobs and he would pay them. He abused them over decades. Evil Clarke would sometimes show porn films before carrying out sex acts, then buy the kids silence with cash and sweets. The police investigation into the pervert did not begin until two years ago when a woman blurted out to detectives she was abused as a child. Inquiries uncovered more victims. However, officers believe they may have only scratched the surface and there could be dozens — or even scores — more still to be found. Clarkes barrister, Ebrahim Mooncey, said: He has said many times he is sorry. He is just marking time — He sees himself dying in prison. He was himself a victim of child abuse. He learned at an early age that sexual abuse of children by adult men was ‘acceptable. Judge Christopher Plunkett said he had to pass a symbolic sentence, regardless of Clarkes health. He told him at Leicester Crown Court: You caused untold misery. He added that the pensioner, of Aylestone, Leicester, would serve his term on a jail hospital wing. Det Insp Lee Hill said: Hes a very dangerous man. I would be surprised if there are not a significant number of other victims who were ‘groomed through swimming. The Amateur Swimming Association said yesterday that Clarke had not worked as a coach for the past 30 years — and that new child-protection policies were introduced in 1996.
