Ralph Clarke, 101 years old, is found GUILTY of 21 historical sex attacks on children – making him UK’s oldest pervert
Ralph Clarke - thought to be the oldest defendant to stand trial in a British court - committed the offences against two girls and a boy, one as young as seven
A 101-YEAR-OLD man has become Britain's oldest pervert after being found guilty of a catalogue of historic child sex offences.
Ralph Clarke - thought to be the oldest defendant to stand trial in a British court - pleaded guilty to nine offences part-way through his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
The former lorry driver committed the offences against two girls and a boy, one as young as seven, in a workshop and the cab of his delivery lorry between 1974 and 1983.
He was today found guilty by a jury of a further 21 counts of indecent assault and indecency against two girls in the 70s and 80s.
The paedo was pictured leaning on a walking stick for support as the case against him was opened at Birmingham Crown Court.
Clarke, of Erdington, Birmingham, initially denied 17 charges of indecent assault, 12 offences of indecency with a child and two attempted serious sexual offences.
He later admitted nine of the charges made against him.
At the start of the pensioner's two-week trial, prosecutor Miranda Moore QC told jurors two of Clarke's victims walked into a police station in August last year to make a complaint against him.
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Miss Moore told the jury: "What they were to tell the police was a history of a catalogue of serious sexual abuse."
It is alleged that some of abuse took place in a garage at Clarke's then home in Erdington.
Miss Moore told the jury panel of six men and six women: "All three victims talk about being in a garden shed or workshop.
"Probably today you would call it a 'man shed' or a 'man cave'."
People from all over the area would take things to Clarke - who was regarded locally as something of a handyman - for him to repair, Miss Moore added.
When Clarke was questioned by police last December he made "limited admissions" to officers, the court heard.
Miss Moore said: "The defendant was interviewed by the police in this case. He agreed some of the things you are going to hear about did in fact happen.
"His first words were, 'Who has complained?'"
Concluding her opening speech, Miss Moore stressed age is no barrier to a defendant being tried "as long as the trial is fair and the evidence is clear".
Before the case was opened by Miss Moore, Judge Richard Bond informed the jury there would be occasions when Clarke left the hearing without permission for personal reasons.
Clarke will also be given help to ensure he can follow the proceedings.
The judge told the panel: "There will be occasions during the trial when the defendant will speak, possibly quite loudly, to the intermediary, who is likely to speak quite loudly back to him.
"The reason for this is that Mr Clarke, not surprisingly at the age of 101, is hard of hearing.
"I invite, in fact I direct you, to ignore any such communications between Mr Clarke and the intermediary - or with his barrister.
"The reason for that is that those communications are normally private but you are bound to hear them in this case for obvious reasons."
Clarke's old age and health meant the court also had reduced sitting hours during the two-week trial, with evidence heard between 9.30am and 1.30pm.
Describing the sitting hours as "very, very unusual", the judge added: "I have made that decision because the interests of justice decree that this defendant, like any defendant who is tried in a Crown Court, must be able to follow the evidence and must be in position to call evidence himself if that time arises.
"I am sure that you will all understand why we have to accommodate Mr Clarke in this particular way.
"At the forefront of my mind I have his welfare. He has got be able to follow this trial. So let's all be patient. It's only fair."
Clarke is expected to be sentenced next week.
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