TERENCE CHILES FROM REDDITCH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT ON SCHOOLGIRL

In August 2000, Worcester Crown Court heard a disturbing case involving Terence Chiles, a 61-year-old man from Winyates Centre, Redditch, who was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl. The incident came to light after the victim, a schoolgirl, visited Chiles' residence following an introduction by another girl. During her visits, which occurred several times a week, the girl was subjected to inappropriate behavior by Chiles, who was known to be a lonely and socially isolated individual.

Prosecutor Tim Sapwell detailed that Chiles, who was a disabled former soldier, had handed out cigarettes to the girls helping him with chores around his home. He also showed them a pornographic video, which raised concerns about his intentions. On two separate occasions, Chiles fondled the 13-year-old girl over her clothing, an act that constituted indecent assault. Despite the severity of these actions, Chiles admitted to two counts of indecent assault during the court proceedings.

Judge Graham Cliff addressed the court, acknowledging the public concern surrounding sexual offenses committed against minors, which has been widely reported in national newspapers. While recognizing that the crime warranted a custodial sentence, the judge ultimately decided that imprisonment would not serve as an effective solution for Chiles' issues. Instead, he sentenced Chiles to two years of probation, with the condition that he attend a sex offenders' therapy group to address his behavior.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Chiles, who had no prior criminal record, was suffering from various health problems, including diabetes, heart issues, and arthritis, which required him to use a walking stick. His defense lawyer, Jonathan Richards, described Chiles as a man who was deeply depressed and socially isolated since his divorce in the 1960s. Richards also stated that Chiles did not understand what had caused his inappropriate conduct and believed that the victim would not be significantly affected by his actions.

Judge Cliff emphasized to Chiles that succumbing to sexual temptation was unacceptable and that he needed to understand the gravity of his behavior. As part of his sentence, Chiles was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years, a measure intended to monitor and prevent future offenses. The court's decision reflected a balance between public concern and the recognition that rehabilitation could be more beneficial than incarceration in this case.