A former canoe instructor guilty of non-recent indecency offences on young boys.

Former Canoe Instructor Found Guilty of Indecency Offences

A former canoe instructor from North West Leicestershire, Michael James Hudson, has been found guilty of non-recent indecency offenses against young boys. Hudson worked as a canoe instructor in the area from the 1970s to the 2010s.

In 2020, Leicestershire Police received a report from a man alleging he had been indecently assaulted by Hudson on multiple occasions when he was a teenager. This investigation led officers to contact another victim who had previously reported the offenses to a third party in 2017, but was unable to support the investigation at that time.

Following contact from officers, the second victim agreed to provide evidence against Hudson. After a lengthy investigation, Hudson, 81, of Sycamore Drive, Moira, admitted to all 10 counts of indecent assault on boys under the age of 16 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Detective Sergeant Anna Blockley from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) stated, "We are pleased Hudson has now been found guilty of the offenses. This has been a deeply traumatic time for the victims, and we applaud their courage in coming forward. We hope this outcome will help them move on with their lives and reassure them that their concerns were taken seriously, no matter how long ago the offenses occurred."

"Hudson was an instructor at various canoe clubs in North West Leicestershire between the 1970s and 2010s. We strongly believe there may be other victims of Hudson out there who, for whatever reason, haven't come forward and reported the offenses. If this is you, we encourage you to come forward. Please be assured your report will be dealt with by specialist officers who will support and guide you throughout the process."

The Child Abuse Investigation Unit's historic crimes team handles all non-recent reports of offenses against children. A dedicated team of officers assists and supports victims and liaises with partner agencies to ensure ongoing support, even after the case has been concluded.