Fred Talbot Jailed for Historic Sex Offences

Former TV weatherman Fred Talbot has been jailed for a total of four years for historic sex offences.

Historic sex offences

The 67 year old was a biology teacher at a Manchester school at the time of the offences. Talbot sexually assaulted the boys on various camping trips to Scotland. The attacks took place in two different locations – one near Moffat in southern Scotland, and one on the Caledonian Canal in Inverness. The offences took place between 1978 and 1981 and were against boys aged fifteen to seventeen.

Trial

During his trial, the court heard from a number of witnesses – all men now in their 50s – who spoke of how Talbot abused his position of trust.

One man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was sexually assaulted after a trip to a pub had left him ‘very much worse for wear’. Another victim told the court he was sexually assaulted by Talbot on an excursion to the Caledonian Canal in 1979. He described the attack as having left him ‘petrified’.

Ian Brown, 54, former front man of Manchester band the Stone Roses, also gave evidence at the trial. Although not a victim of Talbot himself, he told the court how he would never forget how Talbot had invited one of his young friends to sleep in his tent on a school camping trip.

Sentencing

Sentencing Talbot at Lanark Sheriff Court, Sheriff Nikola Stewart told the former ITV presenter he had taken advantage of the innocence of his victims.

Talbot was jailed for a total of four years after being charged with seven historic sex offences. His sentence will commence on 14 August, after he has finished serving a previous five-year jail term for the indecent assault of two 14-year-old boys.

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Source: BBC News