Pensioner, 91, jailed for historic 'barbaric' cruelty towards children

A pensioner has been jailed for ‘barbaric’ cruelty towards children committed more than half a century ago.

Lewis Skelton, 91, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of child cruelty. Manchester Crown Court heard that the charges related to his behaviour towards three girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sentencing, Judge John Potter described the physical abuse Skelton committed as ‘nothing short of barbaric’. The judge told Skelton: “Bluntly, Mr Skelton, the truth is that you have escaped punishment for what you did over 50 years or so ago.

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“But life has not been so easy for your victims, who through that period have had to live with the regular psychological torment of what you did to them.”

The judge paid tribute to the bravery of one of Skelton’s victims, who addressed him in court and laid bare the impact of her ordeal, describing him as an 'evil monster'. She then told the judge: “I feel he deserves to go to prison, regardless how old he is. Please don’t give him a suspended sentence.”

Judge Potter replied: “It isn’t appropriate for you to tell me what sentence I should impose upon the defendant. I think you have been incredibly brave in doing what you have just done.

“I respect that immensely. It isn’t your role to tell me what the correct sentence should be. I simply have to apply the law and impose the appropriate sentence.” The court heard that Skelton was questioned by police in 2021.

Defending, Bob Elias questioned whether it was appropriate for Skelton to be jailed, given his age and frailty. “There would be absolutely no point sending a confused, frail old man into custody,” he argued.

“He is effectively in a prison of his own mind and his own life in any event now. He can barely get about. He toddles down to Tesco and maybe the betting shop, and that’s about it.”

The judge said that he accepted that prison would be ‘difficult’ for Skelton. But Judge Potter said he had to take into account the ‘gravity’ of the offences.

The judge told Skelton: “These three then children have had to live with the effects and memory of what you did to them throughout their adult lives. What you did to them when they were children was nothing short of barbaric, by any standards of measures. Skelton pleaded guilty to three counts of child cruelty.