Swadlincote Paedophile, Michael James Hudson, a former canoe instructor from North West Leicestershire has today (Friday) been found guilty of non-recent indecency offences on young boys.
Michael James Hudson worked as a canoe instructor in North West Leicestershire between from the 1970s into the 2010s.
In 2020 the force received a report from man reporting he had been indecently assaulted on a number of occasions by Michael James Hudson when he was a teenager.
That investigation then led officers to contact another victim, who did report the offences against him to a third party in 2017 however wasn’t able to support the investigation at the time.
Following contact from officers he too agreed to support the case and provide evidence against Michael James Hudson.
After a lengthy investigation Michael James Hudson was charged with 10 counts of indecent assault on boys under the age of 16.
Today 81-year-old Michael James Hudson of Sycamore Drive, Moira, admitted his involvement in all the offences and was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison.
Detective Sergeant Anna Blockley from the force’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU), said: “We are pleased Michael James Hudson has now been found guilty of the offences.
“This was in no way easy for the victims and has been a deeply traumatic time for them. I applaud their courage in coming forward. I hope this outcome will now help them move on with their lives and reassure them that their concerns were taken seriously, no matter how long ago the offences occurred.
“Michael James Hudson was an instructor at various canoe clubs in North West Leicestershire between the 1970s and 2010s. We strongly believe there may be other victims of Hudson out there who for whatever reason haven’t come forward and reported the offences.
“If this is you then we encourage you to come forward. Please be assured your report will be dealt with by specialist officers who will support and guide you throughout the process.”
The Child Abuse Investigation Unit historic crimes team deal with all non-recent reports where the offences have occurred against children. A dedicated team of officers help and support victims, and also liaise with partner agencies to ensure that support continues even after the case has been dealt with.
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.