Detectives commended the courage of the three victims of child molester paedophile predator Gerald Raffells. Gerry Raffell, aged 74, was employed at two children’s homes in Yarnton and near Wallingford when he perpetrated the abhorrent abuse on three boys. One of the lads was assaulted with a rubber bullet, while others were victimised in their dormitories or in the bathroom.
At Oxford Crown Court on Friday, Judge Maria Lamb sentenced him to 11 years in prison, stating of the victims: They were in dire situations: alone, lacking familial support, and you violated their confidence. The complete report from the sentencing hearing is available here.
Expressing approval of the lengthy prison sentence, DC Martin Turner of Cowley police stations stated: The victims of these reprehensible crimes were vulnerable children, who deserved to feel secure.
Gerry Raffell exploited his position of trust to perpetrate these acts.
Despite the considerable passage of time since the offences, upon their revelation, we initiated an investigation.
Thames Valley Police is unequivocally dedicated to investigating offences of this nature, irrespective of the elapsed time.
He stated that the courage of all the victims has resulted in the apprehension of a severe sex offender.
Gerry Raffell was tasked with aiding vulnerable children during their most critical moments, yet he unscrupulously used their vulnerabilities for his own gain in a reprehensible violation of trust.
He has received an extensive prison sentence, and I hope this will provide solace to the victims by demonstrating that justice has been administered.
Regardless of the time that has passed, we are dedicated to investigating historical offences and will consistently strive to bring perpetrators to court to confront their crimes and achieve justice.
His remarks mirrored those of Judge Lamb, who informed Gerry Raffell on Friday: I have listened, as we all have, to the victim impact statement presented to this court, which discusses the repercussions of your actions on each of these victims.
It is universally acknowledged that the punishments imposed by this court may never adequately convey the gravity of the actions inflicted upon them.
However, I hope they find solace in the knowledge that they confronted their abuser in court and were validated by the jury who adjudicated this case.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.