Kevin Cross, a 69-year-old from Falmouth, Cornwall, has been jailed for 12 years after being convicted of a campaign of sadistic abuse against his stepson, which included tying the boy to attic rafters for hours. The sentence was handed down at Truro Crown Court on Friday, where the judge described the abuse as an act of "gratuitous degradation."
Decade-Long Campaign of Abuse
The abuse began when the victim was just nine years old and continued until he was 16, occurring in St Austell during the 1980s. Cross was convicted of multiple incidents of child cruelty, a serious sexual offence, and indecent assault. The court heard that Cross would subject the boy to "prolonged incidents of sadistic behaviour on multiple occasions," including sexually assaulting him while he pretended to sleep.
Cross also abused his stepson by hitting him with cutlery for being a "fussy eater," tying his hands behind his back, and throwing water on him while he lay in bed. The judge, His Honour Recorder Christopher Quinlan, KC, was told that Cross became a "Jekyll and Hyde character" after drinking alcohol.
Victim Dies Before Verdict
The victim, who has not been publicly named, tragically died from cancer a month before the guilty verdict at the age of 53. The years-long abuse only ended when Cross was caught sexually abusing the victim.
Cross was found guilty of attempted anal intercourse and indecently assaulting a boy, according to the Cornish and Devon Post. He must serve at least half of his sentence in custody and sign onto the Sex Offenders' Register for the rest of his life.
If you have been affected by issues of domestic violence or coercive control, you can call Refuge's 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free at 0808 2000 247.
