Anthony Singleton made “false responses” to doctors during tests which delayed the court case for eight years – now 84-year-old he admits offences relating to a girl when he was in his 30s
A paedophile has been jailed for child sex offences committed over 50 years ago after “faking dementia”.
Anthony Singleton was deemed to have made “false responses” to doctors during tests which delayed the case being brought to court for eight years. The now 84-year-old admitted offences relating to a girl when he was in his 30s and living on Canvey Island in Essex.
Basildon Crown Court heard the victim, aged around ten when the abuse began in the early 1970s, reported Singleton to police back in 2017. But the case was delayed for eight years whilst the defence questioned whether he was fit to enter pleas or stand trial, with Singleton having been diagnosed with dementia.
However, a CPS expert later reported that Singleton was “malingering or feigning the extent” of dementia and deemed him fit for trial. Singleton later admitted charges of gross indecency with a child and two counts of indecency with a child, and was jailed by Judge Shane Collery KC for a year and three months.
Though Judge Collery explained that he was constrained by the sentencing powers for child sexual abuse at the time the offences were committed – which were comparatively lenient – he refused to suspend the sentence.
He told him: “Appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody. What message of deterrence is otherwise sent out?”
Shouts of “rot in hell” were heard shouted from the public gallery as he was taken to the cells to begin his sentence.
The court heard Singleton, of Manningtree in Essex, was twice examined by a consultant psychiatrist, in the spring of 2024 and autumn of 2025, for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Despite him having been diagnosed with dementia, the court heard the doctor found no cognitive decline between the two appointments.
Judge Collery said the doctor had suspected Singleton was “malingering or feigning the extent of his cognitive decline”, and gave him a test during the 2025 appointment.
“The doctor was of the opinion that he had made false responses,” Judge Collery said.
He added that Singleton had been diagnosed with dementia based on a single test, and that it seemed “unlikely that those considering that diagnosis had considered the issue of malingering… because he does not believe that they knew anything about these proceedings”.
The CPS expert subsequently signed Singleton off as fit for trial. Weeks later, on the day his trial was due to start, the defendant struck a plea bargain under which he denied the two most serious charges and admitted new, lesser offences.
Singleton pleaded guilty to gross indecency with a child and two counts of indecency with a child, wherein he made the girl touch his penis at age 10 or 11, and twice kissed her on the mouth when she was aged 12 and 14.
The court heard that though the victim had reported further, more serious abuse than Singleton had admitted, the plea deal struck spared her from having to testify at trial. The victim described her abuse as “horrendous and mentally ruinous”, causing a lifetime of panic attacks, suicidal ideation, depression and anxiety.
“From report to court, it has been over eight gruelling years, which has had an immense strain on my health and wellbeing,” she told the court on Tuesday (January 13).
She said the abuse had “a devastating effect on my whole life”, particularly affecting her sexual relationships. “For years, I did not feel loved by anyone and could never accept a compliment,” the victim said.
Adam Norris, defending, told the court Singleton was ‘sincerely sorry’ for the offences he committed over half a century ago. “I wish to make it clear on [Singleton’s] behalf that he accepts that over 50 years ago,” he said.
“He did wrong by the victim in this case and he is remorseful for that. He wishes to say in this most public of forums that he is sincerely sorry for what he did over 50 years ago.”
Singleton “in many ways has been a model citizen, bar the aberration of the events back in the seventies,” the lawyer added, saying he had never offended against anyone else.
Mr Norris added that his client was supported by his wife, children and friends, and supplied the court with a number of character references from people who “find it difficult to believe” he is guilty.
But Judge Collery said Singleton’s supporters would have to accept his guilty pleas. “It was his behaviour to a child back when he was a young man that has brought him here,” he said.
“The simple reality is that he did commit sexual offences against a child. Those who spoke about his kindness need to take a step back and consider that child. The point has come where society requires that he pays for those behaviours.”
Following Singleton’s sentence of 67 weeks’ imprisonment, a friend of the victim said she was ‘delighted’ Singleton had finally been jailed.
“It’s the only fair outcome,” she said. “No child should be groomed and sexually assaulted by a man in his thirties, and anything less than prison would have been hugely unfair and a big disappointment. He has lived almost all his life thinking he got away with this, and I’m so glad he has finally been brought to justice.”
The woman added that she had not been persuaded by the defence’s claim that Singleton only ever had one victim. She said: “If you are also a survivor of Anthony’s sexual offending, no matter how long ago it happened or how old you are, please be brave, come forward, and please contact the police.”
