Ex-Royal Butler Jailed For Abuse

Guest Mon 22 Dec - 23:18

6:59pm UK, Monday December 22, 2008
A former royal butler has been jailed after admitting 29 child sex offences.

Paul Kidd pleaded guilty to a string of historic sex offences at an earlier hearing.

He was given an indeterminate sentence and told he would have to serve a minimum of six years in jail.

The 55-year-old from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, was senior footman to the Queen Mother from 1979 to 1984 and previously worked as a butler to the Queen.

He introduced a youngster to the Queen Mother as a "friend" during a Christmas party at Clarence House - but in reality he had been assaulting the boy since the age of 14.

Kidd also introduced one of his victims to a friend, David Hobday, 56, of Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, who also pleaded guilty to a number of sexual offences.

The former candidate for the UK Independence Party was caught after one of his three abuse victims read a newspaper interview he gave on the 10th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

His boasts about his royal connections, coming from a man who had his own website, www.royalbutler.co.uk, led the complainant to contact police.

The victim, now aged in his 40s, reported he had been indecently assaulted by Kidd at the butler's home in the early 1980s when he was as young as 13.

An investigation was launched and evidence of further abuse was uncovered during a search of his home in Castlehall View.

Among items found on Kidd's computer were 18,019 images of unknown children and a video recording of him abusing another youngster as recently as 2006.

Many of the images recovered were encrypted in computer files with the password "Pickles" - thought to be a reference to a royal corgi.

His third victim, who was treated to the royal tea party, came forward after reading publicity on the case when Kidd was charged by police.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar told him: "You were someone who had influenced your victims to such an extent they were under your spell.

"They would do anything you asked them to do.

"I regard you as someone who is dangerous and presents a risk to all the young
people you may come across."

Kidd pleaded guilty to nine counts of indecent assault, six counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted 11 counts of making indecent images of a child and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.

The offences were committed between 1974 and 1977, 1981 and 1983 - when he was in the employ of the Queen Mother - and 2005 to 2008.

Hobday, 57, of St Johns Street, Tameside, was jailed for three years. He had admitted six counts of sexual activity with a male child under 16 and possessing an indecent video of children.

Both men will be forced to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Former-Royal-Butler-Paul-Kidd-Sentenced-To-Prison-For-29-Child-Sex-Offences/Article/200812415191565?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_0&lid=ARTICLE_15191565_Former_Royal_Butler_Paul_Kidd_Sentenced_To_Prison_For_29_Child_Sex_Offences