Not clear what precisely this former "taxi boss's" role in the trade was, or whether any of this stuff was directly related to the trade.
But maybe indicates why the council here sounds a bit sniffier than the norm about all the safeguarding and similar stuff...
Former Southend taxi boss convicted of 26 paedophile chargeshttps://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/260701 ... e-charges/https://da3h4h7fq481n8.archive.is/H7LOF ... 89bf9d.jpgScott Layfield, 53, of Paddock Close in Leigh, was remanded straight into custody after a jury returned the convictions at Basildon Crown Court on Friday (May 1)."You have been convicted of a lengthy campaign over many years of offences of extreme gravity," said presiding judge Recorder Peter Clark.
"The only possible outcome is that I will have to pass custodial sentences of significant duration.
"Some of the offences of which you have been convicted have a maximum sentence of life. In a case of this nature, I am obliged to consider that outcome.
"Any release from prison is going to be a long way off."
Layfield showed no emotion as the verdicts were read on Friday morning, following more than 12 hours of jury deliberations.
Jurors convicted him unanimously of 22 charges and by a majority of 11-1 on the remaining four.
Recorder Clark thanked them for their work on what he called a "gruelling" trial.
"It has been more challenging than most cases are. You have done it throughout with grace and good humour. You have certainly done your duty and the court thanks you very much for that," he said.
Layfield was convicted of abusing six underage girls, subjecting victims to rapes, sexual assaults and threats to keep quiet.
One girl said he grabbed her and repeatedly groped her.
“I’m going to show you what sex education really is," he told her. "If you tell anyone, they won’t believe you. I have people that I know who can make this go away.”
One of the complainants said she was twice raped by Layfield in a Premier Inn.
Layfield had twice before come to Essex Police's attention but escaped without charge.
In 2015, a schoolgirl told a friend Layfield had raped her and swore her to secrecy – but the friend breached that promise and police became award of the allegation.
However, when a police officer arrived at the girl’s home in December 2015 and asked her if the allegations were true, she denied them.
Then, in May 2018, he was interviewed about allegations by another accuser who reported that he had groped her private area on two occasions.
He denied the offences and police took further action.
But on Friday a jury convicted him of a litany of child sex abuse charges.
Recorder Clark told Layfield his sentence would be so long that when he was "eventually" released from prison, he would have to sign the sex offenders' register for life.
He adjourned sentencing until July so the probation service could produce a report assessing Layfield's dangerousness.
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