Former Tank Commander Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Children

Patrick Elkin, a 64-year-old ex-soldier from Staffordshire, has been sentenced to four years in prison for grooming and sexually abusing two schoolchildren.

Elkin, who served in Northern Ireland and the First Gulf War, was arrested in 2020 after his victims bravely disclosed the abuse to their parents.

The court heard that Elkin, who is now bankrupt after accumulating a £41,000 debt, admitted to sexual activity with a boy under 16 and two counts of sexual assault against a girl under 13.

The boy victim said Elkin had touched his private area on multiple occasions, stopping only after the boy sent him a message expressing his discomfort.

The girl victim revealed that Elkin had touched her private area on more than one occasion and had also squeezed her breasts.

The girl's mother described Elkin as a "monster" and stated that his actions "can never be forgiven."

In his defense, Elkin's lawyer stated that he expressed "genuine remorse, shame, and disgust at what he did." He also highlighted Elkin's financial difficulties and health conditions.

Judge Graeme Smith, in sentencing Elkin, said, "You have taken those children's innocence. They were very brave to speak out in the way they did. Your actions have had a significant impact on the lives of the two children and will no doubt continue to have for much of their adult life."

Elkin must serve two-thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for release. He has also been placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Tracy Adams of Staffordshire Police's Child Protection and Exploitation Team commended the victims' bravery and encouraged any other victims of sexual abuse to come forward.