A brave schoolgirl's disclosure to her teachers has led to the imprisonment of Anthony Doyle, the husband of an Omaze lottery winner, for a series of horrific child sex offences spanning 13 years.
The Dark Secret Behind the Dream Home Win
While 67-year-old Doyle and his wife Rose celebrated winning a mortgage-free £3 million Cornish home with £100,000 cash in April, he was hiding a sinister secret that would soon destroy their dream retirement plans. The former gas engineer had been systematically targeting young girls, with his crimes only coming to light when one courageous victim came forward at school.
The court heard how Doyle had repeatedly sexually assaulted the schoolgirl, and when police seized his phone, they discovered he had secretly recorded her multiple times without her knowledge. The investigation revealed he had done the same to another girl, who was just 13 years old at the time.
Multiple Victims and Hidden Crimes
Birmingham Crown Court was told that the 13-year-old victim had been completely unaware she was being filmed until police informed her, leaving her feeling embarrassed and objectified. A third victim came forward describing how Doyle had regularly groped her when she was as young as nine years old, with the abuse dating back more than a decade.
This victim stated the abuse had a massive effect on her mental health and her ability to trust men in later life. Following his arrest in April, forensic examination of Doyle's devices uncovered 179 indecent pictures and 137 indecent videos featuring children.
Dreams Shattered and Justice Served
His Honour Judge Peter Carr told Doyle during sentencing: Your victims will have to live with the effects of what you have done to them for far longer than this court will be able to sentence you to. Doyle received a prison sentence of six years and three months after pleading guilty to multiple offences.
The court heard how Doyle's wife Rose, a dinner lady, immediately ended their 47-year marriage following his arrest, with divorce proceedings now underway. Just months before his crimes were discovered, the couple had posed happily with champagne outside their new Cornish home with panoramic views, describing their win as a true miracle.
Rose had told reporters: This win is life-changing for us - it's fantastic for our family's future - they won't have to struggle as much as we had to. The couple had lived in the same three-bedroom house in Birmingham for 44 years before their lottery success.
Doyle admitted to:
- Four counts of sexual assault
- Two counts of voyeurism
- One count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
- Two counts of sexual activity with a child
- One count of making indecent images of children
The case serves as a stark reminder that behind the facade of lottery wins and dream homes, dark secrets can lurk, with the bravery of one young girl ensuring a predator faces justice for his crimes.
