Child Abuser Sentenced After Faking Disability
A child abuser who attempted to evade justice by pretending to have a disability before being exposed by CCTV footage has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
John Siddell, 41, sexually assaulted three boys in Leicestershire between 2018 and 2021. During his initial police interview, his brother James Siddell, 44, claimed John was unable to walk or speak.
John was initially deemed unfit to stand trial, but in 2024, a jury found him guilty in a fact-finding hearing. Subsequently, he was observed attending social events at a club, contradicting his claimed disability.
In September, John admitted to 15 counts of child sexual abuse, while both brothers pleaded guilty to one count each of perverting the course of justice. They were sentenced in their absence at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday.
John received a 15-year prison sentence with an additional two-year extended licence period.
His older brother James, described by the court as a "conman," was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.
Judge Keith Raynor said of the child abuser: "He misled hospital staff, custody staff, arresting officers, he misled his own lawyers. He's misled staff at this court; he has misled me at a previous court hearing."
Tuesday's sentencing hearing revealed that two psychiatric reports initially found John unfit to plead due to his apparent inability to walk or talk, with his brother speaking on his behalf. A judge ruled him unfit to stand trial based on these assessments.
Following a two-day trial of facts in March 2024, the jury concluded John had committed all the offences he was charged with.
Claudia James, for the prosecution, stated: "Despite their double lives eventually catching up with them, they continued to live the lie together and attempt to delay and avoid hearings. James played an active role in supporting his brother's façade and encouraged the pretence that he was unfit."
The court heard that the eldest victim, aged 14 at the time, disclosed the abuse to his mother. Additional reports of sexual abuse were made by two other boys, the youngest being only four years old when the offences occurred.
Two victims told police they remained silent due to fear, while another reported emotional instability, nightmares, and spending most of their time confined to their bedroom.
In July 2021, James provided a police statement asserting that John had "limited mobility" and could not have committed the alleged offences due to his disabilities.
In February 2023, James requested a GP letter stating John was unfit to attend court the following month. However, on the same day, John was seen at the Northern Social Club in Ashington, Northumberland, watching an Elvis Presley tribute act and posing for photos with pints of Guinness.
The next day, he was recorded on video at the same venue watching a Newcastle United football match.
"He is alert and he is able to pose for a photograph, just three weeks before his first [fitness to plead] assessment," the prosecutor told the judge.
In April 2024, one month after the trial of facts, the deception began to unravel. As the brothers arrived for a psychiatric assessment at their solicitors' office in Blyth, a detective observed John sitting upright in a wheelchair, talking to his brother.
CCTV footage shown in court depicted John "sat up and alert," but his demeanour changed upon entering the solicitor's office.
In July 2024, a day before another court assessment, John was filmed walking outside his home. Approximately three hours later, James contacted NHS 111, claiming John had become immobile and mute.
That same day, John was admitted to the Bluebell Rehabilitation Unit "at the taxpayers' expense" and was discharged two weeks later, the court was informed.
Claims of Comatose State and Further Deception
When John failed to attend court later in July 2024, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Upon arrival at the custody suite, John appeared unresponsive with his eyes closed. However, CCTV footage inside his cell showed him "wriggling in his chair to slide off it" and reaching for a drink once the officer left.
The brothers, residing on Bolam Drive in Ashington, were charged with perverting the course of justice on 28 July 2023.
John was described as being in a "comatose state," yet the following day he was seen at the Northern Social Club, getting out of his wheelchair and walking around.
The pair failed to attend Leicester Crown Court, prompting a warrant for their arrest.
After learning of the arrest warrant, James called an ambulance for John, claiming he had fallen ill on 14 August and was unable to walk.
The court heard that eight days later, John was filmed on CCTV climbing the stairs of Leicester Crown Court on his hands and knees.
He pleaded guilty to all charges the following month.
In mitigation, Jamie Adams stated that John had learning disabilities, including epilepsy and autism, describing him as "a very vulnerable and very disadvantaged human being."
Meanwhile, Nicholas Peacock described James as coming from "a generationally dysfunctional family who largely survived on the benefits system."
