SIDNEY HARE FROM TROWBRIDGE ESCAPES LIFE SENTENCE DESPITE SIXTH CHILD SEX CRIME

In April 2016, Sidney Hare, an 88-year-old man from Trowbridge with a long and disturbing history of child sex offenses, appeared in court facing new charges that added to his already extensive criminal record. Despite his age and the severity of his past crimes, Hare was spared a life sentence after admitting to a recent historic offense involving the molestation of a young girl in 1981.

Prosecutor Colin Meeke outlined the details of the case to Swindon Crown Court, describing how the victim, now a woman in her 40s, recounted her experience from when she was just ten years old. She was walking past Hare’s residence with her sister when Hare approached them. He initially offered the sister money and sweets, seemingly attempting to distract her, but then turned his attention to the other girl. Hare claimed he had no more items in his pockets and took her upstairs to search through her clothes.

It was there that Hare assaulted her, pushing her onto a bed and simulating sexual intercourse while groping her over her clothing. The girl fought him off, but the trauma of the incident remained with her for years. She did not disclose the assault immediately, as was common at the time, but it was only about 20 years ago, after seeing Hare at a birthday party, that she first confided in someone. More recently, she reported the matter to the police, leading to Hare’s arrest and prosecution.

During questioning, Hare was candid about the incident, recalling the girl’s name and her visit to his house. He pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault. As a result, he was sentenced to an 18-month community rehabilitation order. The court was informed that Hare’s pattern of abuse extended over several decades, with his first conviction dating back to 1973, when he received a suspended sentence for two indecent assaults on young girls aged eight and nine.

Further convictions followed: in August 1981, he was placed on a two-year probation order for indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl; in 1983, he received another suspended sentence for abusing the sister of the girls he had previously assaulted. In 2004, Hare was jailed for 12 months after being convicted of indecent assaults on an eight-year-old girl from incidents that occurred in 1995 and 1996. His most severe sentence came in 2006, when he was sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting to raping and abusing two sisters, beginning when they were just four years old, with the abuse spanning from 1974 to 1983.

At that time, Hare was also suffering from advanced bowel cancer, asbestosis, and had a pacemaker that required regular refitting. His defense attorney, Nicholas Clough, argued that the recent assault was not the worst of Hare’s offenses, noting that the assault occurred over clothing and that Hare was now in his late 80s, battling multiple health issues. Clough suggested that a probation order would have been appropriate had the matter been addressed earlier, emphasizing that imprisoning Hare would be harsh given his age and health, and that he would likely become homeless upon release.

Judge Peter Blair QC acknowledged the gravity of Hare’s past crimes, stating, “I have to punish you for something you did 35 years ago. In reality, if it had been reported back then, I expect you would have had probation as the sentence.” The judge also ordered Hare to register as a sex offender for five years, although under his previous sentence, he was required to register for life.

Hare’s criminal history is extensive, with convictions spanning from the early 1970s through the 2000s, involving multiple victims and repeated offenses. Despite the severity and longevity of his offending, his latest conviction resulted in a relatively lenient sentence, reflecting his age, health, and the court’s consideration of the circumstances. His case remains a stark reminder of the persistent danger posed by repeat offenders, even in their advanced years, and the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in addressing historic child abuse cases.