Drug dealer with 27 kids blasted by his own dad after being jailed for 12 years
Career criminal Tony Henderson, 53, revealed the size of his brood to a judge in a shameless bid for leniency
THE dad of a drug dealer who told a judge he had 27 children in a shameless bid for leniency said yesterday: “My lad has that many bairns I can’t keep up.”
Career criminal Tony Henderson, 53, whose ex-prostitute girlfriend is pregnant with his 28th child, revealed his massive brood as he faced sentencing for pushing heroin and crack cocaine.
Judge Jeremy Richardson jailed him for 12 years and said: “You have 27 children and another to be born soon.
“You will be separated from them for a substantial period of time.”
As benefits scrounger Henderson began his lengthy stretch his father Reg, 79, said: “Tony has always been a ladies’ man.
“Women flock to him.
“He doesn’t believe in contraception.
“He should have been docked when he was a kid.”
Henderson fathered his family over 30 years.
Friends said he had been with hundreds of partners — and liked young women most.
One ex said: “He hasn’t ever paid anything towards my kids.
“He’s had no contact with them.
“I don’t care if he’s alive or dead to be honest.”
Another woman said: “He’s got the gift of the gab — it’s the only explanation for the number of girls he’s had.
“Some are local, some he met on the internet.
“Often they are from broken homes.
“As far as I know the oldest of his children are in their 30s and the youngest about four.”
Henderson had his first four kids with first wife Tracey Calvert, starting in 1984 when she was 18 and he was 21.
His next partner was Sarah Mellows.
She was a 16-year-old schoolgirl when they first met in 1991.
He wooed her with free rides on the fairground waltzer he was operating at the time.
They had three kids between 1996 and 2001.
Sarah’s dad David, 61, said: “She was absolutely infatuated.
“I couldn’t stomach it.
“Would you want your 16-year-old going out with a 28-year-old married man with three kids and tattoos from neck to toe?
“He seemed to prey on the young and the vulnerable.
“He turned my daughter’s life upside down.”
When the relationship with Sarah ended Henderson wed Jayne Taylor in 2003.
But his dad Reg said there are a string of other women who had children by Henderson, of Withernsea, East Yorks.
He recalls the names Helen, Sarah and Zoe.
Retired trawlerman Reg is in touch with some of his grandchildren — but cannot remember all their names.
Henderson’s current girlfriend is recovering drug addict Jenny Dunn, 32.
She will be sentenced for drug offences in August.
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He was found guilty of drug dealing during a trial at Hull crown court.
The jury was told Henderson built a drugs empire while living off benefits — claiming he was epileptic and could not work.
Police who raided his home in Withernsea found 18 wraps of crack cocaine.
He claimed it was for addict Dunn.
But police found evidence of drug dealing on six mobile phones — including a text in which he boasted: “They don’t sell crack cocaine in Hull anymore, they come to me.”
Judge Richardson asked Henderson how many children he would have to call to tell them he was being jailed.
Henderson replied: “Twenty-seven.”
The judge said: “You have 27 phones?”
As pregnant Dunn watched from the public gallery, Henderson replied: “No, I have 27 children your honour.”
Judge Richardson was unmoved and told Henderson: “You are a completely dishonest man.”
Henderson has been jailed previously for GBH, assault and burglary and has a string of other convictions.
One of his daughters, 27-year-old Emma from Hull, said: “My dad’s my Dad.
“He does what he does.
“He’s done his crime and will do the time.”