Former Paralympian from Bude jailed for 1980s child abuse

A man once celebrated for his work in blind sport has been sent to prison for sexually abusing a child in Cornwall more than 40 years ago.

Anthony Webb, 81, of Treleven Road, Bude, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court on 30 July to five years in prison. A jury had convicted him of six counts of indecent assault against a child.

What the court heard

The offences took place in the Bude area during the 1980s, when the victim was a teenager. The abuse happened on multiple occasions and had a profound impact on her life.

Anthony had built a reputation working with young people. He was a judo instructor and mentored children in blind sports across the UK. Judge Simon Carr said he “abused that trust in the most appalling way”.

Webb, who is medically blind, denied the offences during the trial. He claimed one incident of inappropriate touching had been accidental because of his visual impairment. The court rejected that account and found him guilty on all six counts.

Decades before she came forward

The victim lived with the trauma for decades before she found the courage to report what had happened to police. Her report prompted an investigation, after which Anthony was interviewed and summonsed to court.

Detective Constable Hannah Ackford said: “We welcome the sentence handed to Webb today. He sought to use the fact that he is blind as an excuse for inappropriately touching the victim, but the evidence presented to the court clearly demonstrated that these offences were deliberate.

“I would like to commend the victim for her immense courage and resilience throughout this investigation and the court process. Reporting abuse that happened many years ago can be incredibly difficult, but her bravery has ensured that Webb has been held accountable for his actions.

“I hope this outcome gives reassurance to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, no matter how long ago it happened, that they will be listened to, supported and taken seriously if they come forward.”

Support available

If you have been affected by this article there is support available.

You can visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system.

You can also call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.

Advice and support can also be found at the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999, or through the Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) on 0300 3034626.

For more information please visit www.dc.police.uk/Rape-SexualAssault.