A FORMER BBC radio broadcaster has been jailed after he was found guilty of grooming and sexually assaulting a boy in the 1970s.

John Caine, of Gower Street in Liverpool, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Wednesday morning.

The 69-year-old (formerly of Abbey Court in Lilleshall, Shropshire) had previously been found guilty of three counts of gross indecency - which occurred in the Flintshire area in the late 70s.

The court heard at the time of the offences, Caine worked at BBC Radio Merseyside and impressed the victim, who was in his teens, with his "personality and sports car."

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On two occasions, he groped the boy's groin through his clothing, and on another he committed a sex act on him.

James Wilson, prosecuting, read a statement to the court, in which the victim said: "I believe what happened defined my whole life.

"It will never leave me.

"It has been with me every day since and has blighted every aspect of my life."

Caine, who also worked for Central TV, listened with his head in his hands as the the victim said the offences had left him with a lifelong feeling of intense guilt, as well as impacts on his physical and mental health.

The court also heard the defendant was convicted for similar offences against teenage boys in 1999 - one of those offences having happened in the 1970s and the others from the late 80s to the mid 90s.

Simon Mintz, defending, said his client's "most obvious" mitigation was his age - and that although he "has been blessed with relative good health," his age would make custody harder to bear than would otherwise be the case.

He added: "He has been out of trouble since his release from prison in around 2001, which marked the destruction of his successful career in broadcasting.

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"Since 2001 he has rebuilt his life. He owned and ran a bed and breakfast hotel for many years in the Welsh countryside, and also had some freelance work directing videos."

Mr Mintz said his client had also faced a lengthy delay in the court proceedings starting, with the initial complaint against him having been made some four years ago.

Judge Timothy Petts told the defendant: "These assaults have had a profound and long lasting impact on his life."

Caine was jailed for eight years.

He will be on the sex offenders register for life and has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years.

Detective Inspector Iolo Edwards from the North Wales Police Amethyst team said: “Following a detailed investigation into these historic offences, I welcome today’s sentence – and my thoughts as always are with the victim.

“This investigation demonstrates that we will not let time be a barrier to discovering the truth or obtaining justice.

“Any person affected by sexual violence can obtain confidential advice and support from the North Wales Sexual Assault referral centre on 0808 156 3658.”

 

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