Man who faked disability jailed 15 years for child abuse

John Siddell, 41, from Ashington in Northumberland, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday at Leicester Crown Court for sexually abusing three boys under the age of 13 between 2018 and 2021 while living in Leicestershire. His brother James Siddell, 44, received two years and nine months for perverting the course of justice by helping sustain the deception.

Prosecutor Claudia James told the court that John Siddell pretended to be severely disabled, arriving at police interviews and psychiatric assessments in a wheelchair, mute, with his head lolling and eyes closed. James spoke on his behalf, claiming John had suffered a stroke that prevented him from walking, talking or committing the upstairs offenses alleged by the victims. This led two psychiatrists and a judge to initially deem John unfit to plead, prompting a trial of facts where a jury determined he had committed the acts.

Suspicion from prosecutors and police prompted further investigation. Evidence from home CCTV, social media, phone photos and witnesses revealed John walking unaided, socializing at a local club, attending Elvis nights, watching a Newcastle United match, drinking pints of Guinness and using his...