Nov 2009

Bolton paedophile Ian Thompson jailed

A Bolton man who sexually abused a number of young boys he was babysitting has been jailed.

Ian Andrew Thompson, aged 43, of Tudor Court, Bolton, admitted four counts of sexual assault on a child, five counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act and three counts of exposure.

Today he was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) and ordered to serve a minimum of four years in prison at Bolton Crown Court.

The offences happened between 1 January 2008 and 21 June 2008. They all happened at Thompson’s home and on a number of boys, all of whom were under the age of 12 at the time.

A number of victims would spend the night at Thompson’s house at any one time.

He would often abuse more than one of them when they stayed over, engaging in games of strip poker with them.

He would force them to smoke cigarettes and told one victim he would ‘take them to Belmont and drown them’ if he went to prison.

The abuse stopped after one of the victim’s confided in his mother.

Detective Constable Mike Cooke, who led the inquiry, said: “Thompson is a single male who, over a period of many months, gained the trust of his victims’ parents under the pretence that he was minding their children overnight at his flat.

“Instead he took full advantage of the young boys and carried out numerous sexual acts for his own depraved gratification.

“Fortunately the boys knew what was happening to them was wrong and came forward to report the abuse.

“This has been a difficult and lengthy police inquiry, but I am pleased they have been spared the ordeal of giving evidence.

 “Thompson has been jailed for a long time and can no longer pose a threat to his victims or their families.”