SIMON HARRIS: LEOMINSTER MAN SENTENCED FOR KENYAN CHILD ABUSE AT GREEN HOUSE
| Red Rose Database
Leominster Rapist
In February 2015, Simon Harris, a British national from Leominster, was sentenced to a total of 17 years and four months in prison after being convicted of multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of boys in Kenya. Harris, who previously worked as a public school teacher and was involved in running a charitable organization in East Africa, exploited his position of trust to prey on vulnerable children.
Harris’s crimes came to light after a detailed investigation that revealed his disturbing pattern of behavior. The court heard that Harris, aged 55 at the time of sentencing, would pick up young boys in his Land Rover in the town of Gilgil, Kenya, and lure them to his residence, known as the Green House. There, he subjected them to terrifying and humiliating sexual abuse, often threatening their lives if they disclosed what had transpired. The court described how Harris’s actions left his victims deeply scarred, both physically and psychologically.
Judge Philip Parker QC addressed Harris directly during the sentencing, noting that Harris’s intelligence and charisma had given him a veneer of respectability, which he used to conceal his self-centered arrogance. The judge stated, “You designed your life to be close to boys; it suited you to be in education. It gave you kudos and it also provided a source of boys.” He emphasized that Harris had targeted some of the most vulnerable children, who were living on the margins of society, and had assumed a revered position among local communities, believing himself answerable to no one.
Harris’s involvement in education and charity work in Kenya had created an illusion of trustworthiness. The court heard that he would allow boys to sleep in his bedroom and even wash them, actions that went unnoticed or unchallenged by others. The judge remarked that Harris’s victims had been left “used, degraded, and humiliated,” with mental scars that would likely never fully heal.
Harris was convicted on multiple counts, including three charges of indecent assault and five counts of sexual assault. One of his victims was believed to be as young as nine years old. Additionally, Harris was found guilty of possessing four indecent images of children. The case also revealed that one of the victims who had come forward later took his own life before the trial concluded in Birmingham Crown Court in December.
Harris’s history of offending extended beyond his activities in Kenya. He had previously admitted to indecently assaulting three teenage pupils at Shebbear College in Devon during the 1980s, where he taught Latin. The court noted that those victims had been left haunted and revolted by his actions. Harris had also served a 15-month jail sentence in 2009 after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children.
The investigation into Harris’s activities was sparked by a Channel 4 documentary titled “Unreported World,” which exposed his conduct and prompted a police inquiry. Under UK law, British citizens can be prosecuted in the UK for serious offenses committed abroad, which facilitated the legal proceedings against Harris.
The International Justice Mission, a human rights organization that collaborated with law enforcement to support the victims, welcomed the sentence. Chief Executive Terry Tennens stated, “Today’s sentence is a landmark moment for the UK justice system and for all the organizations and authorities who worked together to secure the imprisonment of this man. The tough sentence sends a clear message that those who abuse vulnerable, young children will be held accountable.”
Authorities described Harris as a calculating and prolific offender, warning that there may be many more victims in Kenya who have yet to come forward. The police revealed that Harris would often drive into Gilgil and offer street children food and money, luring them into his vehicle with the intent of exploiting them sexually. The case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Harris, who exploit their positions of trust to commit heinous crimes against children in both local and international contexts.
Harris’s crimes came to light after a detailed investigation that revealed his disturbing pattern of behavior. The court heard that Harris, aged 55 at the time of sentencing, would pick up young boys in his Land Rover in the town of Gilgil, Kenya, and lure them to his residence, known as the Green House. There, he subjected them to terrifying and humiliating sexual abuse, often threatening their lives if they disclosed what had transpired. The court described how Harris’s actions left his victims deeply scarred, both physically and psychologically.
Judge Philip Parker QC addressed Harris directly during the sentencing, noting that Harris’s intelligence and charisma had given him a veneer of respectability, which he used to conceal his self-centered arrogance. The judge stated, “You designed your life to be close to boys; it suited you to be in education. It gave you kudos and it also provided a source of boys.” He emphasized that Harris had targeted some of the most vulnerable children, who were living on the margins of society, and had assumed a revered position among local communities, believing himself answerable to no one.
Harris’s involvement in education and charity work in Kenya had created an illusion of trustworthiness. The court heard that he would allow boys to sleep in his bedroom and even wash them, actions that went unnoticed or unchallenged by others. The judge remarked that Harris’s victims had been left “used, degraded, and humiliated,” with mental scars that would likely never fully heal.
Harris was convicted on multiple counts, including three charges of indecent assault and five counts of sexual assault. One of his victims was believed to be as young as nine years old. Additionally, Harris was found guilty of possessing four indecent images of children. The case also revealed that one of the victims who had come forward later took his own life before the trial concluded in Birmingham Crown Court in December.
Harris’s history of offending extended beyond his activities in Kenya. He had previously admitted to indecently assaulting three teenage pupils at Shebbear College in Devon during the 1980s, where he taught Latin. The court noted that those victims had been left haunted and revolted by his actions. Harris had also served a 15-month jail sentence in 2009 after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children.
The investigation into Harris’s activities was sparked by a Channel 4 documentary titled “Unreported World,” which exposed his conduct and prompted a police inquiry. Under UK law, British citizens can be prosecuted in the UK for serious offenses committed abroad, which facilitated the legal proceedings against Harris.
The International Justice Mission, a human rights organization that collaborated with law enforcement to support the victims, welcomed the sentence. Chief Executive Terry Tennens stated, “Today’s sentence is a landmark moment for the UK justice system and for all the organizations and authorities who worked together to secure the imprisonment of this man. The tough sentence sends a clear message that those who abuse vulnerable, young children will be held accountable.”
Authorities described Harris as a calculating and prolific offender, warning that there may be many more victims in Kenya who have yet to come forward. The police revealed that Harris would often drive into Gilgil and offer street children food and money, luring them into his vehicle with the intent of exploiting them sexually. The case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Harris, who exploit their positions of trust to commit heinous crimes against children in both local and international contexts.