An 84-year-old paedophile has finally been sent to prison for sexually abusing a child more than half a century ago, after a court found he had deliberately faked symptoms of dementia to avoid justice.
Eight-Year Delay for Feigned Illness
Anthony Singleton was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Basildon Crown Court after admitting to offences against a young girl in the early 1970s. The victim, who was around ten years old when the abuse began, reported Singleton to the police in 2017. However, the case was stalled for eight years as Singleton’s defence repeatedly questioned his fitness to plead or stand trial, citing a dementia diagnosis.
The court heard that Singleton, of Manningtree, Essex, underwent two psychiatric assessments for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in spring 2024 and autumn 2025. Despite the prior diagnosis, the consultant psychiatrist found no evidence of cognitive decline between the two appointments. The expert concluded Singleton was “malingering or feigning the extent” of his condition.
Justice Served After Plea Bargain
Judge Shane Collery KC told the court that during the 2025 assessment, the doctor had administered a test where Singleton gave “false responses.” The judge noted the original dementia diagnosis appeared to be based on a single test, and it was unlikely those who made it were aware of the ongoing court proceedings. Subsequently, the CPS expert declared Singleton fit for trial.
On the day his trial was due to begin, Singleton entered a plea bargain. He denied the two most serious charges but pleaded guilty to gross indecency with a child and two counts of indecency with a child. The admitted offences involved making the girl touch his penis when she was 10 or 11, and kissing her on the mouth when she was aged 12 and 14.
Judge Collery explained that while sentencing guidelines from the 1970s constrained him to a more lenient term, he refused to suspend the sentence. “Appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody. What message of deterrence is otherwise sent out?” he said. As Singleton was taken to the cells to begin his 67-week sentence, shouts of “rot in hell” were heard from the public gallery.
Victim’s Lifelong Trauma and Relief at Sentence
The court heard a powerful impact statement from the victim, who described the abuse as “horrendous and mentally ruinous.” She said it led to a lifetime of panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety, devastating her ability to form relationships. “For years, I did not feel loved by anyone and could never accept a compliment,” she stated, adding that the eight-year legal process had placed an “immense strain” on her health.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Adam Norris said Singleton was “sincerely sorry” for the “aberration” committed over 50 years ago and presented character references from supporters. Judge Collery countered that these supporters needed to “consider that child,” and that society required Singleton to pay for his crimes.
A friend of the victim expressed delight at the jail term, calling it the “only fair outcome.” She urged any other potential victims to come forward, stating: “No child should be groomed and sexually assaulted by a man in his thirties… He has lived almost all his life thinking he got away with this, and I'm so glad he has finally been brought to justice.”
