Pinball Wizard and a Child Sex Cult (02.04.78)
This article is about the conviction of 9 members of a nationwide paedophile network. A further 20 men had already been convicted in the same police investigation – see This Circle of Evil (09.10.77)
News of the World, 2nd April 1978
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“Daily Mirror – 1 April, 1978
‘Sinister Group Passed Boys Round The System’ – Judge
By Court Reporter
A CHILD-SEX campaign was branded by an Old Bailey judge yesterday as a ‘sinister group’.
‘The Paedophile Information Exchange must cause deep anxiety to people who care about the welfare of children,’ said Judge Brian Gibbons.
His criticism came when he jailed four of the nine men who admitted homosexual acts with young boys and indecent assault. The others were given suspended sentences and fined.
Two of the men had met through the Exchange and a network of communication had been developed among the nine who ‘passed boys round the system.’
One of the men, 26-year-old Robert Bushell, of Golders Green was described by the judge as the worst offender.
He had committed some of the offences in the dormitory of a Surrey boarding school.
Judge Gibbons told him ‘You corrupted the uncorrupted at an early age. I consider you a grave danger to children.’.”
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Sentencing – Daily Express (1.4.78) reported that Judge Gibbons also jailed Geoffrey Taylor, 65, for four years for indecent assault; David Hooper, 35, four years for buggery; and Nigel Beatman, 32, 30 months for indecent assault.
NOTW – 2 April 1978
ROBERT GEORGE BUSHELL, 26, packer
Hermitage Lane, Golders Green, London
6 grave offences: 8 years
GEOFFREY GIBB TAYLOR, 65, pinball service technician
Park Avenue, Pamers Green, London
3 indecent assaults: 4 years
DAVID HOOPER, 35
Fenwick Road, Peckham, London
One grave offence, one indecent assault: 4 years.
NIGEL BOATMAN, 42
Osborne Court, Windsor
Three indecent assaults: 2½ years.
ERIC STANHOPE, 65
Lion House, Church Park, Melton Mowbrey, Leicester
one indecent assault: 18 months
JOHN ETHERINGTON, 52
Albert Street, slough, Buckinghamshire
aiding and abetting one indecent assault: 6 months, suspended 2 years
JOHN GRISTOCK, 47
Taunton Road, Lee Green, London
One gross indecency: 9 months, suspended 2 years
DEREK BROWN, 45
Coniston Road, Muswell Hill, London
One gross indecency and indecent assault: fined £200.
RONALD PALMER, 47
Barnwood Court, North Woolwich, London
One indecent assault: fined £150.
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