Grandad jailed for sex with 14-year-old
April 04, 2011
A grandfather who was jailed for getting a 14-year-old girl pregnant after a year-long affair has been branded a “sick bully” by a former friend.
West Reading man Kenneth McArthur, 44, who is well known around town as an amateur footballer, had the affair behind his wife’s back after he met the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, through his work as a private hire driver in Bracknell in October 2008.
They had a relationship, meeting for sex in secluded spots and sometimes at the girl’s house, until she fell pregnant and he left her.
McArthur, who has two children and two grandchildren, was jailed for five-and-a-half years at Reading Crown Court on Friday, March 18, as his wife looked on.
The man, originally from Liverpool and with a thick accent, was previously convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and one count of possessing an indecent photo of a child under 16.
A former friend, who asked not to be identified, told getreading: “He claims he thought she was 16 but that’s bull****. He said things like, ‘This girl does things I’ve only dreamed of’ – it’s sick."
“It’s disgusting. He’s got a daughter around that age. He should have more morals than that."
“He thought he could get away with it, that he was untouchable, but he’s got his comeuppance now.”
McArthur has played as a defender for several football teams around Reading including Richfield Rovers and, most recently, Phoenix Rangers.
His former friend continued: “He was a bully in football and outside. He used to intimidate people on the pitch. He had this snarl and his scouse accent and he used to scare people. He was a very intimidating man. He would turn on his friends.”
McArthur, from Rona Court, had the affair while he was living in Bracknell and working as a private hire driver. He met the girl when her mum called him to pick her daughter up on Hallowe’en 2008.
Graham Smith, prosecuting, said: “It was a relationship of convenience for him as opposed to a genuine, loving relationship."
“He left her pregnant, which has impacted on her life and will continue to do so.”
During the sentencing hearing, Kevin Toomey, defending, explained McArthur planned to help support the baby, which was born in November 2009, and its mum after his release from prison.
He also said that McArthur has been made trustee of the prison laundry during his time on remand.
He said: “Mrs McArthur attended every day of her husband’s trial and is here today [at the sentencing]."
“Mr McArthur is a lucky man that she has tried to maintain some semblance of a relationship in their marriage."
“He understands that [the girl’s] life will never be the same again and that because of her age he should have taken far more responsibility for what he did – even if he did think she was 16."
“He’s had time to reflect on what he’s done. He said that he’s ruined his family’s lives and those of [the girl] and the baby because, as he said, he tried to have his cake and eat it.”
Judge Stephen John, sentencing, said: “I am satisfied that you knew she was 14 when you met her and that you didn’t care that she was underage – you were interested only in sex."
“The effects will be long lasting and will impact on the normal process of growing up and forming appropriate relationships."
“That girl’s life will never be the same again.”
Source; http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2090 ... _14yearold
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