Michael Slater

Michael Slater, an 85-year-old resident of a village near Dorchester in Dorset, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for repeatedly abusing a young girl over a five-year period. The case, heard at Bournemouth Crown Court, involved Slater pleading guilty to 11 serious sexual offences, highlighting a pattern of predatory behaviour against a child victim.

The offences included eight counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and three counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. According to court proceedings reported by the Dorset Echo, the abuse came to light when the victim disclosed years of sexual touching by Slater to a teacher. The abuse persisted until the beginning of 2024, when the victim finally asked him to stop. Despite the gravity of his actions, Slater insisted during the process that he was not a predatory paedophile.

In a police interview, Slater made no comment, but later contacted an officer to express concerns about media reporting of the case. His defence, represented by Holly Fagan, highlighted his remorse, stating: "He has shown remorse and is very sorry." Fagan also noted the shock of immediate imprisonment for Slater, given his age, and mentioned his efforts to reconnect with his Christian faith while in prison, attending church services. She argued that his advanced age should be considered a mitigating factor.

However, Judge Robert Pawson rejected much of the mitigation, pointing to a pre-sentence report that indicated a lack of genuine remorse from Slater. The judge remarked: "You were offending as a paedophile for five years. You wanted to ensure that (the victim) would not report matters." He criticised Slater for blaming the child and suggesting he was doing her a favour, describing it as "clear victim blaming" and "nonsense". Acknowledging Slater's age, the judge allowed him to remain seated during sentencing, saying: "You don’t have to stand up, you are 85 years of age."

Sentencing details were structured concurrently: seven years each for counts 1-3, five years each for counts 4-9, and three years each for counts 10-11, resulting in an effective seven-year custodial term. The case was prosecuted under Dorset Police jurisdiction, with the proceedings underscoring the long-term impact of child sexual abuse and the judiciary's firm stance against such offenders.