Paedophile, 101, faces long jail term for sex offences

A 101-year-old paedophile is set to be jailed for committing a string of sex offences against three victims in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Retired haulier Ralph Clarke has been warned to expect a double-figure custodial sentence for 17 offences of indecent assault, 11 of indecency with a child and two attempted serious sexual assaults.

Clarke, believed to be the oldest person ever convicted by a jury in Britain, pleaded guilty to nine offences relating to a schoolboy part-way through a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

The pensioner, who has respiratory issues and limited hearing and mobility, was found guilty by jurors on Friday of 21 offences committed against two young girls.

Judge Richard Bond will pass sentence this morning, having remanded former RAF serviceman Clarke in custody over the weekend.

One of Clarke's two female victims branded him "evil" following his trial, saying he deserved to "rot in hell" and die behind bars after showing no remorse.

During his trial, Clarke, from Erdington, Birmingham, told the jury of six men and six women he was "pretty well immune" to feelings.

He told the court from the witness box: "I had always got a pile of kids around the garage because I used to repair all the bikes for them. They'd come from all over."