Paul Coffey

Paul Coffey, a 76-year-old resident of Westcliff, Southend-on-Sea, has pleaded guilty to ten historic sex offences committed against two female victims. The admissions were made at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, October 2, 2024, as reported by The Echo in an exclusive article by crime reporter Charles Thomson.

The offences, which began in the 1980s and continued into the 2010s, involved a catalogue of abuse targeting vulnerable young girls. Coffey confessed to seven charges of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 13, as well as three counts of sexual assault on another female complainant. These admissions mark a significant development in a long-standing investigation into historical child abuse in Essex.

During the court hearing, Judge Shane Collery KC deferred sentencing for five weeks to allow the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report. The judge emphasised the need to assess Coffey's level of dangerousness, stating, "I think I must look at the question of dangerousness." Despite the delay, Judge Collery made it clear that a prison term was highly likely, remarking, "It’s difficult to see any alternative other than a custodial sentence." Coffey had arrived at court with a holdall, apparently anticipating immediate sentencing, but was granted bail until the hearing scheduled for November 20, 2024. The judge noted Coffey's prior compliance, saying, "I will renew his bail on the basis that he has been trustworthy to date."

The case has been covered under Essex Uncovered, highlighting historical child abuse in the region. No further details on the victims' identities were disclosed to protect their privacy, in line with standard court reporting guidelines. Essex Police, the prosecuting force, have not issued additional statements beyond confirming the guilty pleas.