'Britain's oldest defendant' Ralph Clarke, 101, guilty of child sex charges

A man believed to be Britain's oldest defendant has been found guilty of child sex offences.

Retired lorry driver Ralph Clarke, 101, was convicted of 21 charges relating to two young girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

Clarke admitted nine charges relating to a young boy part-way through his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

One of his victims said he deserves to die behind bars and "rot in hell" for his crimes.

Clarke, who is expected to be sentenced next week, sat impassively as the unanimous verdicts were delivered.

  • Victim on 'evil' man

Speaking anonymously to reporters, the older of Clarke's two female victims said: "He has damaged so many lives in such a massive way and he has no remorse.

"He's evil and he deserves to be in prison - he deserves to die in prison, he deserves to rot in hell for what he put me through, let alone the others. I think we can all say that."

Of the verdicts returned against Clarke, the woman said: "It was the first 'guilty' that was the huge one - that first one meant we were believed.

"We already knew he had admitted to some charges so to have guilty on the rest was vital for some closure."

  • 'We won't get full closure'

But the victim added: "We will never get full closure - it's something we have always got to live with - but it was a huge step towards some closure."

The younger of the female victims said: "You are never ever going to feel like you have got justice when you have been abused, I don't think.

"It makes me angry that he knew right from the beginning we were telling the truth. The guy can't even say sorry and it makes me so angry that he has got no remorse, no regret."

Meanwhile, the male victim told how he had felt shame and guilt despite knowing he had done nothing wrong.

Explaining his reason for speaking to the media, the male complainant in the case added: "If it helps one other person come forward that's the main thing - not just in this, but in any case."