A former canoe instructor who was found guilty of abusing boys has been jailed. Michael Hudson was found guilty of non-recent indecency offences on young boys when he worked in North West Leicestershire from the 1970s into the 2010s.
It comes after Leicestershire Police received a report in 2020 from a man reporting he had been indecently assaulted on a number of occasions by Hudson when he was a teenager. That investigation then led officers to contact another victim, who did report the offences against him to a third party in 2017.
However, he was not able to support the investigation at the time. Following contact from officers, however, he too agreed to support the case and provide evidence against Hudson, a spokesman for Leicestershire Police has said.
Hudson was charged with 10 counts of indecent assault on boys under the age of 16 after a lengthy police investigation. Now the 81-year-old, of Sycamore Drive, Moira, has been found guilty of all the offences and was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison.
Detective Sergeant Anna Blockley, from the force’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU), said: “We are pleased Hudson has now been found guilty of the offences. This was in no way easy for the victims and has been a deeply traumatic time for them.
“I applaud their courage in coming forward. I hope this outcome will now help them move on with their lives and reassure them that their concerns were taken seriously, no matter how long ago the offences occurred.
“Hudson was an instructor at various canoe clubs in North West Leicestershire between the 1970s and 2010s. We strongly believe there may be other victims of Hudson out there who for whatever reason haven’t come forward and reported the offences.
“If this is you then we encourage you to come forward. Please be assured your report will be dealt with by specialist officers who will support and guide you throughout the process.”
The Child Abuse Investigation Unit historic crimes team deal with all non-recent reports where the offences have occurred against children. A dedicated team of officers help and support victims, and also liaise with partner agencies to ensure that support continues even after the case has been dealt with.
If you would like to discuss your experiences further – please contact Charles Derham on 02393552153 or by email on charles@remedylaw.co.uk to discuss the viability of a civil claim for compensation