A shocking new podcast has revealed that Lancashire Police provided information to prosecutors about alleged sexual offences committed by convicted paedophile Raymond Munro against 14-year-old Charlene Downes before she vanished from Blackpool.
The Houseguest and the Hidden Danger
Charlene Downes disappeared from the streets of Blackpool on 1 November 2003, and despite a substantial £100,000 reward, her case remains unsolved over two decades later. The Charlene: Somebody Knows Something podcast, hosted by actress and campaigner Nicola Thorp, has now uncovered disturbing new details about the investigation.
Thorp's investigation reveals that Munro, described by the Blackpool Gazette as a 'babysitter sex fiend', was a 'drinking associate' of Charlene's father, Robert 'Bob' Downes. Astonishingly, Munro was living with the Downes family at the time of Charlene's disappearance, despite awaiting sentencing for child sex offences.
In a baffling turn of events, Robert Downes even went to court to support Munro for his sentencing on 3 November 2003, while the search for his missing daughter was actively ongoing. Both parents have since claimed they were unaware of the nature of Munro's trial.
Unprosecuted Allegations and Ambiguous Records
Nicola Thorp's investigation uncovered a previously unknown detail from the case. Detective Superintendent Gareth Willis, the senior investigating officer, confirmed that in 2005, police gave information to prosecutors about alleged offences Munro committed within the Downes household.
'According to the senior investigating officer of Charlene's case, police gave information to prosecutors about alleged offences committed by Munro in the Downes household,' Thorp stated. 'The alleged victims were Charlene and a friend of hers, but the decision was made not to press charges.'
The reason for not pursuing charges remains unclear. Thorp explained, 'When I asked about this, the senior investigating officer told me that records were ambiguous. They assumed it might have been because Munro had already been convicted of serious sexual offences and was serving a lengthy sentence.'
Munro was ultimately sentenced to four and a half years in prison for the indecent assault of three 10-year-old girls and a 6-year-old boy.
A Father's Defence and a Family's Tragedy
To understand the complex dynamics within the Downes home, Thorp interviewed Robert Downes about his relationship with Munro. Robert confirmed rumours of an argument between Munro and Charlene the day before she vanished.
Reportedly, Charlene told Munro during the exchange: 'I hope you go down for what you did.' However, Robert Downes vehemently denied that this related to any abuse of his daughter.
Addressing the argument and allegations, Robert told Thorp, '[The argument] was a separate incident. It has nothing to do with Charlene. He [Munro] did not touch Charlene. I am telling you right now and you can keep this on file, you are barking up the wrong tree.'
He claimed the argument concerned Munro's previous offences against his neighbour's children, for which Robert had attended court. When Thorp asked if he was protecting Munro, Robert replied he would never 'defend a bloody paedophile'.
He responded passionately, 'If it's a paedophile, they should go to jail. Better still, I'd put him in an electric chair. Anybody touching kids like that should not even be walking around in this universe.'
The fourth instalment of Charlene: Somebody Knows Something, where Nicola Thorp addresses these troubling allegations, is available now on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify.
