How Could You? Hall of Shame- UK- Michael John Sharman UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Leiceister, UK,”a foster parent who sexually abused four boys in his care was labelled a “sexual predator” and told to expect a long jail sentence.

Michael John Sharman (71) was convicted by a jury of a catalogue of 15 sex offences, some committed more than two decades ago, against four youngsters who were among dozens of children whose wellbeing he was entrusted with by the authorities.

Sharman crept into the vulnerable victims’ bedrooms at night or cornered them in a bathroom.

He told one scared child: “Let’s have some fun.”

Married Sharman, who denied any wrongdoing, claimed he had properly cared for “lots of children” over many years and accused the four victims of fabricating allegations of sexual abuse to get compensation.

Sharman, of Rowlatts Hill, Leicester, was remanded into custody to await sentencing in February.

After the verdicts at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Simon Hammond said: “You’ve been rightly convicted of very serious sexual offences against four young lads who were in your care as a foster parent.

“What you did to one particular boy was horrendous.

“The legacy is this sort of abuse is always very grave.

“It affects intimate relationships, trust, can cause self-harming and all sorts of dreadful things.

“The courts have a duty to protect vulnerable people from sexual predators like you.

“I’ll be considering a very lengthy sentence in your case to reflect the gravity.

“These were wicked offences.

“The boys were in your care as a foster parent and you abused that position.”

Sharman was convicted of five counts of indecent assault, one gross indecency, an attempted buggery and three offences of buggery on one boy. He was convicted of one count each of indecent assault against two boys and three offences of indecent assault on a fourth boy.

The crimes were committed on various dates between 1987 and 1994.

The boys were aged between nine and 15 years old.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said during the trial: “One complainant wasn’t able to report the abuse until 2012, after he’d found it increasingly difficult to cope.

“He was drinking excessively, taking drugs, often leaving home for days.

“When his partner confronted him he broke down and made an emotional revelation about the abuse he’d suffered.”

After the verdicts, officer in the case Det Con Gareth Gimson said: “We’re pleased with the verdicts for the victims who’ve had the courage to come forward after so many years.””

Leicester foster parent Michael John Sharman found guilty of abusing young boys in his care

[Leiceister Mercury 12/17/14 ]

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Update:“A 71-year-old paedophile foster carer who raped a boy in his care and abused three others has been jailed for 18 years.

Michael Sharman was described by Judge Simon Hammond as a “wicked man” who had betrayed the trust of the boys, the social services and his wife.

Leicester Crown Court heard on Friday that Sharman’s wife was a “compassionate and religious” woman who had been the driving force in the pair becoming carers between 1987 and 1994, when the first allegations against Sharman, of Harrowden Court, Rowlatts Hill, Leicester, were made.

Those allegations led to no prosecution, but in 2012 one of Sharman’s victims went to the police after disclosing his abuse to his girlfriend.

That victim had moved in with the Sharmans at the age of nine after being taken away from his violent mother.

Describing the rape, attempted rape and sexual molesting the victim suffered at Sharman’s hands, the judge said: “He went into foster care a damaged young lad but when the defendant was finished with him he was even more damaged.”

The other three boys were sexually abused by Sharman, who would walk in while they were having baths and molest them.

All three came forward after the rape allegations were made against Sharman.

The court heard that one of the men had been invited by the defence to be a character witness before revealing that he, too, had been abused. He became a witness for the prosecution.

Prosecutor James Thomas said the four victims all had ongoing problems with trust.

He said: “The effects are long-lasting and far-reaching.”

Sharman continues to deny the offences – after being found guilty by a jury in December.

Caroline Loram, mitigating, said the inevitable prison sentence would probably cause more suffering to Sharman’s wife than Sharman himself.

She said: “He loves his wife and his concern continues to be for her welfare. She is a good woman and she will suffer.”

Sharman was sentenced for a total of 15 sex offences committed against boys aged from nine to 15.”

 

Paedophile foster carer Michael Sharman jailed for 18 years for raping boy in his care and abusing three others
[Leicester Mercury 2/8/15 by Tom Mack]