A ‘predatory and manipulative’ pensioner who sexually abused multiple victims across south London for more than four decades has been jailed for 30 years.
Seventy-three-year-old Nigel Clayton, from Sutton Common Road, appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Monday (September 6) where he was sentenced to 31 counts of sexual assault, rape and possessing indecent images after being convicted at the same court in May.
Clayton is known to have abused eight male victims between 1976 and 2017, one of whom was abused for more than 30 years.
The court heard the sickening crimes took place at various locations in south London, including Sutton and Croydon, even during a funeral. Clayton also used a car garage with a bed inside to carry out his assaults.
He targeted boys and young adults, persuading some of them to do odd jobs for him in return for money, offering gifts, holding debts over them, making threats or using physical force. He also lied about being a doctor, claimed he knew about child development and also claimed he knew about modelling in his attempts to access vulnerable victims and justify the abuse.
An investigation launched in 2016 after a victim first reported the abuse to police in 2016, leading to seven other victims being identified and Clayton’s arrest in February 2020.
Detective Constable Candice Burley said: “Clayton is a predatory and manipulative individual who specifically targeted victims he knew to be vulnerable; engineering situations which afforded him close contact with them in order to carry out his abuse.
“One victim was under his control for more than 30 years, suffering regular sexual assaults.
“The long term effect of such prolonged abuse is difficult to comprehend.
“I extend my utmost respect and thanks to all of the victims for their courage in speaking up and ensuring Clayton was brought to justice for his heinous crimes.
“It is of course possible there are further victims out there and I would urge anyone with information to come forward.
“You will be supported by specially trained officers who, as this conviction shows, are committed to the investigation of sexual offences and ensuring those responsible are held accountable.”
If people knew how brave these victims were, to go to Police in the first place, then stand up in Court to face perverts defence. I salute them. They should hold their heads high.