John Siddell sexually abused three boys under the age of 14 between 2018 and 2021 while living in Leicestershire, but attempted to avoid justice by faking a severe disability – until CCTV footage caught him out
A paedophile pretended he couldn’t walk or talk by faking a disability in a bid to dodge prosecution for his vile crimes.
Leicester Crown Court heard John Siddell, 41, was spotted at Elvis Presley nights at a social club and was filmed walking without assistance, all while claiming to be seriously ill as police probed his sexual offences against three young boys.
His brother, James Siddell, 44, aided him in keeping up the deceit about his condition, even going so far as to tell psychiatrists he was unfit to stand trial.
John Siddell sexually abused the youngsters, all under 14, between 2018 and 2021 while living in Leicestershire. On Tuesday, he was caged for 15 years plus a two-year extended sentence, while his brother received two years and nine months behind bars.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Keith Raynor described the brothers’ conduct as “scheming and devious”. He said: “They misrepresented John Siddell’s mental and physical abilities, the behaviour of both of them entirely corrupting and undermining the course of justice.”, reports the Mirror.
Prosecutor Claudia James told the court the brothers led a “not-so-covert double life”. She said: “The brothers’ busy social lives in part unravelled their deception, as documented by social media, photos taken on their phones and their own home CCTV.” Ms James remarked that when John Siddell displayed physical debilitation, it “could not be more different” from footage showing him “walking, talking and engaging with others in his local social club”, including while watching a Newcastle United fixture.
She noted he took selfies where he managed to smile and pose with his head raised and eyes open, while in one photograph he was seen enjoying a pint of Guinness. Video evidence showed him walking without assistance and utilising his wheelchair as a “trolley” to transport household goods over a mile in June 2022.
A statement from someone who provided care for him in hospital during July 2024 described him as “the most verbal non-verbal person I have ever seen”, the court was told.
Judge Raynor stated Siddell remained hospitalised for a fortnight “at the taxpayers’ expense” while an “extremely pressed National Health Service should have been doing their job with other deserving patients”.
Siddell persuaded psychiatrists he was incapable of participating in a criminal trial during an assessment where his brother acted as his spokesperson. John Siddell “presented as wheelchair-bound, refused to open his eyes and was unable to hold his own head up”, Ms James stated.
During a fact-finding hearing, a jury established that he had abused the boys.
A different psychiatrist determined in May 2024 that there was “no reliable basis” that Siddell was unfit to stand trial. The court was told that the previous month, a police officer had observed him “sat upright in his wheelchair communicating with James” before “dramatically changing once arriving at the office for his assessment”.
Following charges of perverting the course of justice, neither defendant appeared at a plea hearing in July the previous year, with claims that John Siddell had suffered a seizure and been rushed to hospital.
In September, he pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, five counts of sexual assault, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and four counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
Both brothers admitted perverting the course of justice between November 2021 and August 2025.
A statement read to the court on behalf of the victims, who cannot be named, revealed they are “still dealing with the effects of the abuse”.
The brothers, of Bolam Drive, Ashington, Northumberland, failed to appear at their sentencing hearing on Tuesday.
Speaking in defence of John Siddell, barrister Jamie Adams described his client as a “very vulnerable and disadvantaged human being” who has received diagnoses of epilepsy, autism and learning disabilities. Mr Adams further stated that Siddell’s family members have “exaggerated John’s ill-health throughout his life to get some financial benefit”.
Barrister Nicholas Peacock, representing James Siddell, informed the court his client came from a “generationally dysfunctional family who largely survived on the benefits system”.
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