The 69-year-old claimed his victims came to his house to visit his son (Image: Metropolitan Police /PA Wire)
A paedophile has been convicted of 22 counts of child sex abuse after violating youngsters over a seven-year period. Bradley Dilsworth, 69, of Phoenix Close, Walthamstow, was found guilty on May 21 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
The vile former foster carer targeted children between the ages of seven and 16 from 2002 and 2009. The court heard that Dilsworth would invite children to his home after school and allow them to smoke and drink alcohol. He was charged based on offences committed against five victims.
One victim, who met the paedophile when she was 13, believed that she was in a relationship with him. It was only years later that she realised she had been a victim of his sickening crimes.
Another victim was a seven-year-old girl who was staying at his house with her parents at the time, Waltham Forest Echo reports.
The 69-year-old presented himself as a “friendly and approachable neighbour” in Walthamstow, an adult that could be trusted around children, the court heard.
The paedo claimed that children who spent time at his house were visiting his son, who was of a similar age to them. His defence was rejected by the jury, who found the evidence demonstrated a clear pattern of grooming and abuse.
During the investigations, officers uncovered an “Aladdin’s cave” of electrical devices at Dilsworth’s home. Hard drives, discs, and USB devices were seized. Officers also found CCTV footage from inside the home, which included indecent imagery of one of the victims.
Alongside the footage showing years of offending, victims were also able to provide detailed floor plans of their property in Walthamstow during police interviews.
Det Insp James Rush, who led the investigation, said: “I would like to thank the victims in this case for the immense courage they have shown in coming forward to report the abuse they suffered.
“Undetected for years, Dilsworth was able to abuse children in what my team uncovered to be a hellish after-school club, lulling young people into a false sense of security and exploiting their trust.
“For the victim-survivors, speaking about their experiences many years later is incredibly difficult, and their bravery has been crucial in securing this long sentence today.
The Metropolitan Police has called on anyone who may have been a victim, visited his house on Phoenix Close, or visited former addresses on Grove Green Road, Leyton; Bulwer Court Road, Leytonstone; or Roberts Road, Walthamstow, to come forward.
Det Insp James Rush added: “We are determined to support all victim-survivors and are now asking anyone who believes they may have concerns about Dilsworth to please come forward. I want to reassure anyone impacted that you are not alone and can seek specialist support and guidance, not only from the police, but also from independent charities and services.”