Vile foster carer grooms and sexually abuses 5 children for 7 years | UK | News
69-year-old man claims victims came to his home to visit son (Image: Metropolitan Police /PA Wire)
A pedophile has been convicted of 22 child sexual abuse offenses after abusing teenagers for seven years. Bradley Dilsworth, 69, of Phoenix Close, Walthamstow, was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court on May 21.
The vile former foster carer targeted children aged seven to 16 between 2002 and 2009. The court heard Dilsworth would invite children to his home after school and allow them to smoke and drink alcohol. He was charged with crimes against five victims.
One victim, who met the pedophile when she was 13, believed she was in a relationship with him. It wasn’t until years later that she realized she was the victim of his sickening crimes.
Another victim was a seven-year-old girl who was staying at his house with her family at the time. Waltham Forest Echo reports.
The court heard the 69-year-old presented himself as a “friendly and approachable neighbour” in Walthamstow, an adult who could be trusted around children.
Paedo claimed that the children who spent time at his home visited his son, who was the same age as them. His defense was rejected by the jury, which found that the evidence showed a clear pattern of grooming and abuse.
During investigations, officers uncovered an “Aladdin cave” of electrical devices at Dilsworth’s home. Hard drives, disks and USB devices were seized. Officers also found CCTV footage from inside the house, which included indecent images of one of the victims.
As well as footage showing years of crimes, victims were also able to provide detailed floor plans of their Walthamstow properties during police interviews.
Det Insp James Rush, who is investigating, said: “I would like to thank the victims in this case for their tremendous courage in coming forward to report the abuse they suffered.
“Having gone undetected for years, Dilsworth was able to exploit children, lull teenagers into a false sense of security and exploit their trust in what my team uncovered was a hellish after-school club.
“It is incredibly difficult for the surviving victims to talk about their experiences so many years later, and their courage is crucial in receiving this long sentence today.
The Metropolitan Police have appealed for anyone who may have been a victim, who visited their home in Phoenix Close or their former address in Grove Green Road, Leyton; Bulwer Court Road, Leytonstone; or Roberts Road, Walthamstow will feature.
Det Insp James Rush added: “We are committed to supporting all victim survivors and are now asking anyone who believes they may have concerns about Dilsworth to please come forward. I would like to reassure anyone affected that you are not alone and that you can seek specialist support and guidance not only from the police but also from independent charities and services.”
