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'Monstrous' paedophile sent to jail
A senior church figure and Boy's Brigade captain who committed "monstrous" indecent assaults on three children has been jailed for seven years.
And a court has heard the victims of Baptist deacon Anthony Akers, 70, reported the abuse to church elders at Preston's Carey Baptist Church – but they chose not to take the matter further.
Preston Crown Court prosecutor Francis McEntee said one of Akers' victims had believed there would be some monitoring of the defendant after the complaint was first made, but now does not believe that ever took place.
Akers' victims were two boys, who were abused when aged between 11 and 14, and a girl who was sexually assaulted between the ages of nine and 13 in the 1970s.
At the time, explained Mr McEntee, Akers was a deacon at the Pole Street church and did volunteer work. He carried out the abuse in his home and sometimes when he visited the children.
The court heard the girl was regularly assaulted in his works van – sometimes while Akers was driving on motorways as far afield as London.
It is understood Akers became a lay member at the church following his work as captain of the local Boy's Brigade, which has since ceased operating.
Years later the female victim told police: "I was always terrified someone would see and deeply embarrassed, frightened and ashamed."
In her victim impact statement, the woman added: "Tony Akers treated me like a sex slave."
Mr McEntee said: "Initially the abuse was reported to the elders of Carey Baptist Church, but it appears the decision was made to take the matter no further, as to do otherwise may have been detrimental to the defendant's health."
After police were contacted, Akers was arrested at his home in Glenview Close, Ribbleton, in December 2007 and immediately admitted what had happened.
He told officers: "I am at a loss to explain how or why I did it. I am ashamed for my family and for my church."
Akers pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault. Another 10 will lie on file.
His victims, now adults, say their childhoods were destroyed by his crimes.
The woman said she believed at the time she only existed to satisfy his needs.
She said in a statement: "He robbed me of my innocence, childhood and youth."
Judge Pamela Badley told Akers: "Your behaviour was monstrous."
Akers will be on the sex offenders register for life.
>> Pervert abused positions of trust and betrayed his community
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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