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Briton Simon Harris guilty of child sex abuse in Kenya | Briton Simon Harris guilty of child sex abuse in Kenya |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A British charity boss who preyed on vulnerable Kenyan street children has been found guilty of sexual abuse. | A British charity boss who preyed on vulnerable Kenyan street children has been found guilty of sexual abuse. |
Simon Harris was convicted of eight charges of indecent and sexual assault on youngsters in Gilgil, and four of possessing indecent images of children. | Simon Harris was convicted of eight charges of indecent and sexual assault on youngsters in Gilgil, and four of possessing indecent images of children. |
Birmingham Crown Court heard he would lure boys to his house in Kenya by offering them food, shelter and money. | Birmingham Crown Court heard he would lure boys to his house in Kenya by offering them food, shelter and money. |
Harris, 55, of Pudleston, near Leominster, Herefordshire was cleared of 10 further charges, including rape. | Harris, 55, of Pudleston, near Leominster, Herefordshire was cleared of 10 further charges, including rape. |
Documentary crew tip-off | Documentary crew tip-off |
The jury failed to reach a verdict on one remaining rape charge. He will be sentenced in the new year. | The jury failed to reach a verdict on one remaining rape charge. He will be sentenced in the new year. |
It was the first prosecution to use legislation that allows British citizens to be tried for sex offences committed abroad against children if it is also an offence in that country. | |
Before the trial, Harris also admitted six offences of indecent assault against three boys aged between 13 and 14, when he was a teacher at Shebbear College, Devon in the 1980s. | Before the trial, Harris also admitted six offences of indecent assault against three boys aged between 13 and 14, when he was a teacher at Shebbear College, Devon in the 1980s. |
Det Ch Insp Damian Barratt, of West Mercia Police, said Harris used his work to exploit some of the most vulnerable children on the planet. | Det Ch Insp Damian Barratt, of West Mercia Police, said Harris used his work to exploit some of the most vulnerable children on the planet. |
"He was a predatory sex offender who, over a number of years, groomed and exploited children and those around him in order to perpetrate his abuse," he said. | "He was a predatory sex offender who, over a number of years, groomed and exploited children and those around him in order to perpetrate his abuse," he said. |
Harris had faced 23 charges in total, including 18 allegations relating to assaults. | Harris had faced 23 charges in total, including 18 allegations relating to assaults. |
The offences in Kenya were committed while Harris was running a gap year charity he set up in the East African country, in the 1990s. | The offences in Kenya were committed while Harris was running a gap year charity he set up in the East African country, in the 1990s. |
During his trial prosecutors said he lured homeless boys to his home, known locally as "The Green House", by offering them food and shelter. | During his trial prosecutors said he lured homeless boys to his home, known locally as "The Green House", by offering them food and shelter. |
The court heard he would drive into Gilgil and encourage them to get into his Land Rover, with food and money. | The court heard he would drive into Gilgil and encourage them to get into his Land Rover, with food and money. |
One man who claimed he had been raped by Harris as a child, committed suicide shortly after giving evidence. | One man who claimed he had been raped by Harris as a child, committed suicide shortly after giving evidence. |
Michael Kamondia was among several boys to testify across a live video link from Kenya but died on 7 December, days before the jury retired to consider its verdicts. | |
The abuse came to light when a Channel 4 documentary team making a film about the plight of Gilgil's street children was given information about his activities. | The abuse came to light when a Channel 4 documentary team making a film about the plight of Gilgil's street children was given information about his activities. |
The offences at Shebbear College in Devon, where Harris taught Latin, all happened between 1982 and 1989. | The offences at Shebbear College in Devon, where Harris taught Latin, all happened between 1982 and 1989. |
Current head teacher Simon Weale said the school acted promptly at the time to report the allegations to police after the victims made complaints. | |
Harris was suspended and left "during the course of the investigations", the college said. | |
"Even though these offences took place more than 25 years ago, we utterly deplore these crimes and our overwhelming sympathies are with Harris' victims," said Mr Weale. | "Even though these offences took place more than 25 years ago, we utterly deplore these crimes and our overwhelming sympathies are with Harris' victims," said Mr Weale. |
Contempt inquiry | Contempt inquiry |
It also emerged during the trial Harris had spent 15 months in a British jail for possession of indecent images of children following a 2009 conviction. | |
He had originally faced 22 charges relating to assaults in Kenya, but Judge Philip Parker QC told jurors four had been removed from the indictment mid-trial. | |
The case was nearly thrown out after Channel 4 published a news item wrongly stating he had already been convicted, only hours after jurors began deliberating. | The case was nearly thrown out after Channel 4 published a news item wrongly stating he had already been convicted, only hours after jurors began deliberating. |
Judge Philip Parker QC said he regarded the broadcaster's mistake as "beyond unfortunate". | Judge Philip Parker QC said he regarded the broadcaster's mistake as "beyond unfortunate". |
The matter has been referred to the Attorney General to consider possible action under contempt of court procedures. | The matter has been referred to the Attorney General to consider possible action under contempt of court procedures. |