Eleventh Hour
It’s 4.15pm on Thursday 1st July, and I have just received notification from the police that the sentencing on Friday 2nd July has been postponed. This is because the probation office has not yet been able to formally assess Nigel Clayton. After six weeks of his being found guilty. I heard the words from the unemotional voice speaking them in a kind of stupor.
This evil man is still trying to control his victims from the other side of the prison wall. If you have not been abused in your life, you will not understand how we, the victims, feel. Clayton has controlled all our lives for the last forty years, and now he is taking his chance to roll the dice one more time.
The anger I am feeling at the moment is unbearable. How the fuck has Nigel Clayton got any rights. He has surely forsaken any entitlement he might have had as a human being for the way he has behaved, and for the young lives he has violated. He was found guilty of 32 out of 35 charges of historical sexual abuse against eight victims, me being the youngest. I was just eleven years of age. I have this evening spoken to a few of the others who are equally frustrated at the poorly-funded and inept justice system. The new date for the sentencing is Tuesday 27th July 2021. But I won’t hold my breath.
I feel so sorry for the other victims and, of course, the police inspectors C and T who both worked tirelessly to secure the conviction of Clayton. I actually felt a sadness when Clayton broke down in court when he was found guilty of the 32 charges. But that sadness today turned to anger. Clayton will never apologise for the hurt and the pain he has put all of us through. Throughout the whole of the trial he elected not to speak or respond to questioning. Today I can only hope that he rots in hell.
Even my compassion has its limits.
Paul Stevens
1st July 2021
Paul, I feel so deeply for you and the other victims. You must be devastated. What the bloody hell is wrong with our justice system? I’m disgusted to say that unfortunately I knew Nigel Clayton as an acquaintance (not a friend) and never ever knew what what a dirty, disgusting, horrible person and human being he was. I’ve read your book and can honestly say I cried for you. I hope on the 27th July they throw away the fucking key to his cell and he rots in hell… Good luck to you for the future and I hope you are able to continue with your life the way you want to. Much love X X
Thank you, Diane, for your kind words. Incredibly, since writing that post, Clayton’s sentencing date has now been delayed until September 6th, that’s another nine weeks to wait. I can barely put my anger into words, but for now words are all I have.
Hold on in there, Paul. Stay strong and hopefully on the 6th September justice will be done for you and Clayton’s other victims? I’m looking forward to reading your second book “Beyond The Hurt” and the third book about the trial…thank you for having the courage and the strength to make this possible. Much love x x
Thank you for your support, Diane. It’s people like you that will help all of Clayton’s victims come to terms with what he has put them through,
I believe that there will be more victims who will come forward, but not too many I hope. ‘Beyond the Hurt’ is about what I have found out since the first book was published. I think it is more powerful than the first as I wrote it in a calmer frame of mind. It is mire reflective, as I wasn’t as angry as when I wrote the first one.
Thanks again for your kind words. x