An individual convicted of child sex crimes from 50 years ago has been sentenced to jail after allegedly pretending to have dementia.
Anthony Singleton, now 84, confessed to offenses involving a young girl when he lived in Essex and was in his thirties. The victim, who was approximately ten years old when the abuse began in the early 1970s, reported Singleton to authorities in 2017. However, the legal proceedings were delayed for eight years due to concerns about Singleton’s mental capacity.
Despite being diagnosed with dementia, a court-appointed expert later determined that Singleton was exaggerating his condition and was fit to stand trial. Singleton eventually pleaded guilty to charges of gross indecency with a child and two counts of indecency with a child. Judge Shane Collery KC sentenced him to a year and three months in prison.
While acknowledging the limitations of the sentencing laws applicable at the time of the crimes, Judge Collery emphasized the necessity of immediate incarceration for appropriate punishment. As Singleton was escorted to begin his sentence, outcries of “rot in hell” echoed from the onlookers.
The court revealed that Singleton, residing in Essex, underwent evaluations by a psychiatrist on two occasions for the Crown Prosecution Service. Despite his dementia diagnosis, the evaluations showed no cognitive decline between the assessments.
The defense argued that Singleton expressed deep remorse for his actions and had never reoffended since the incidents in the 1970s. However, Judge Collery underscored the gravity of Singleton’s offenses and the need for accountability.
Following the sentencing, a friend of the victim expressed satisfaction at Singleton’s imprisonment, affirming that justice had been served and urging other potential victims to come forward.