Former Skegness clown jailed for 13 years for abusing young children

A former Derbyshire teacher and professional clown expects to die behind bars after being jailed for abusing young children, perverted acts he considered 'normal'.Paedophile ex-children's entertainer, teacher and swimming instructor George Holden was described as a "manipulative" and "predatory paedophile" by a judge after being convicted of 17 sexual offences against two victims.The 88-year-old abused the pair, who were aged between seven and 11, while working as a swimming instructor at Queen's Park Leisure Centre in Chesterfield in the 1970s.The court heard his previous convictions included sexually abusing blind and disabled children while working as a teacher at a special school.At his latest trial, his barrister said that Holden believed child abuse was normal at the time, having been to boarding school.He committed the offences in the swimming pool changing rooms, as well as his own home and, on one occasion, while he was working in Skegness as a children's entertainer.Holden, of Ashgate Road, Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault, two counts of gross indecency with a child and three counts of buggery on the first day of his trial last month.A sentencing hearing at Derby Crown Court on Friday, November 5, was told that the defendant had a history of convictions for offences against boys.

Judge Egbuna sentenced him to 13 years in prison, with an extendedlicence period of one year.He also ordered him to sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.