Christopher Richards, a 58-year-old firefighter from Reading, Berkshire, was sentenced to three years in prison for indecently assaulting two young boys at the fire station during the 1980s. Found guilty of four counts of indecent assault, Richards used spanking as a form of punishment for the boys’ “naughtiness.” The court highlighted the repeated nature of his actions, which caused embarrassment and fear to the victims. Richards also pleaded guilty to three counts of cruelty to a person under 16. Despite the severity of his crimes, his defense claimed he did not accept the sexual element of his actions.
A firefighter who spanked “naughty” boys who visited his fire station has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Christopher Richards, 58, of Reading, Berkshire, was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault on two young boys.
Richards was an accomplished firefighter but was found to have indecently assaulted the boys, one of whom was between eight and nine years old.
The assaults took place over several years at Redding Fire Station in the 1980s, with the suspect spanking the boys for “mischief” while they were together.
On Monday, Recorder Carl King, listening in at Reading Crown Court, told Richards: “This is how you did it: You yourself told the victim that you had done something wrong, that you had played a prank on him. It was an invitation to do so.”
“In a situation like that, you let him know that he has a choice between getting a spanking from you or telling his parents that you pulled a naughty thing out of him. – Points that need improvement.
“At the time he was an eight- to nine-year-old kid and you were a teenager, not yet 25.”
The court heard Mr Richards slapped the victim’s bare bottom.
Christopher Richards (pictured), 58, of Reading, Berkshire, was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault on two boys.
“It is clear that the victim was completely embarrassed by what you were doing,” the Recorder said.
“Similarly, in counts 5 and 7, you subjected another victim to what you described as a spanking and again elicited from him what you asked him to do, which was naughty for which he should be punished. A similar incident occurred.
“Your behavior towards both victims was consistent and repeated and, as far as one of the victims is concerned, what he did to justify receiving such treatment from you. There is no doubt that there was great surprise and fear.”
“Your actions towards each of your victims were despicable and reflected a callous disregard for them and it is clear that there was a sexual element to your actions as far as indecent assault is concerned.”
According to the defense attorney, the defendant did not accept the sexual element.
Richards was also found guilty of three counts of cruelty to persons under 16 after previously pleading guilty to the charges. Mr Recorder King made it clear that these were brutal crimes, in contrast to the sexual offenses included in indecent assault.
“In terms of all the testimony, the issues that Mr. Richards fought at trial were very narrow issues,” Pamela Blaine, a lawyer for Mr. Richards, said at an earlier hearing.
Mr Richards, an accomplished firefighter, was found to have indecently assaulted the boys, one of whom was between eight and nine years old.
“He accepted the acts he was accused of and pled guilty to a charge of cruelty which effectively encompassed the acts he was accused of. Whether the acts amounted to indecent assault was a matter for the jury to decide.”
“This is an unusual case, compounded by the fact that he has received significant prison sentences for similar conduct.
“He’s obviously made great strides and is trying to address the issues.”
She told Recorder King: “What I want to tell you is that there were probably four or five hearings where we thought the problem would be resolved, but it wasn’t.”
“This has been very difficult for the defendant, because the reality is that he has prepared for every sentencing in connection with this matter.”
“He is well aware of the different ways he could be punished in this case.”
In a personal statement read out by prosecutors, one of the victims said, “I was always worried that someone in power would do something like this again.”
“I was worried about how my dad would react if I told him what Chris had done to me.
“It caused me so much anxiety and stress. I felt like I had been living a lie for so many years.”
Richards, now of Elmey Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, was sentenced to three years in prison for four counts of indecent assault on a male and three counts of abuse of a person under the age of 16.
