Paedophile who faked severe disability has lies exposed by CCTV | News

A pedophile who pretended to be severely disabled to avoid prosecution for child abuse was caught on CCTV.

John Siddell, 41, of Chestnut Street, Ashington, Northumberland, pretended to be a non-verbal wheelchair user unable to hold his own as he carried out a series of attacks against three children.

Leicestershire Police obtained CCTV footage of the 41-year-old man walking, talking and socializing despite appearing completely incapacitated during court-ordered appointments.

His brother James Siddell, 44, lied to police about the seriousness of John’s medical condition.

When detective Matt Gibson, who first suspected the brothers in 2024, went to arrest the brothers, John continued the fraud.

On Tuesday 12 May, John and his brother, also of Chestnut Street, Ashington, Northumberland, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

James Siddell was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison. John Siddell was sentenced to 15 years in prison, including 3 years and 2 months, for perverting the course of justice, and 11 years and 10 months in prison for 15 sexual offenses against children.