Award-winning foster carer jailed for 13 years for child sex crimes

An award-winning foster carer who was once praised on TV show Tricia for his work fostering 72 children has been jailed for 13-and-a-half-years for child sex crimes.

One of Bill Rathbone's victims thought she would not be believed because he had been honoured by Redcar and Cleveland Borough with certificates for fostering, featured in local newspapers for his good work and had appeared on television.

The 64-year-old of Norham Walk, Ormesby, was found guilty of 14 child sexabuse charges against two girls by a jury last month.

One of his victims told in a statement how she could not bring herself to have a relationship with another man after the abuse and was resigned to never being a mother.

She attended the court building, but could not be in the same room as herabuser.

Rathbone, a bar manager from Middlesbrough, had admitted having sex with one girl, but claimed it was consensual and she was over the age of consent.

Teeside Crown Court was also told Rathbone's now-deceased wife Brenda knew about him abusing a girl.

There has been an earlier trial, but the jury could not come to a decisionand he was tried again after a second victim came forward.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said Rathbone had prevented one of his victimsfrom going to the police by repeatedly threatening to kill himself if she told the authorities that he was a paedophile.

In a statement read out in court, one of the victims said: "The anger andhurt and hatred for myself has made me consider killing myself on a number of occasions.

"I have self-harmed, I have scars on my arms and I have starved myself.

"I have a fear of men. I have never experienced having a life with anybody. I probably never will.

"I have been robbed of the fundamental right to a normal life. I will never have children."

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC said he had been contacted by friends and other fostered children testifying to Rathbone's good character.

However he told Rathbone: "You are in complete denial and as such you remain a threat to girls."

Judge Bourne-Arton QC sentenced Rathbone to 13 years and six months inprison.