Paedophile Pensioner Sentenced to 29 Years

A paedophile pensioner was told by the judge he "thoroughly deserves it" as he was sentenced to 29 years in prison. Rick Passway, a sick sex offender, was finally held accountable for a string of abuse against six women and girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

His crimes included the rape of one woman in Faringdon in the mid-1980s, just days after she had a hysterectomy operation in Swindon. Passway, a taxi driver at the time, drove her home from the hospital before raping her in her living room.

Another victim was repeatedly sexually abused by Passway over several years, beginning when she was a child and continuing into her teenage years. He also molested four other victims, who were aged eight to 14 when they were subjected to his abuse.

"No Mercy"

Sentencing the 77-year-old at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Nigel Daly said, "Your treatment of your [first victim, who was repeatedly raped as a child] was despicable. You've heard what she has to say about that. You've taken away her childhood. You have ruined her adult life."

"The rape of your [second victim, who was sexually assaulted in the mid-1980s] was shocking in the extreme. In respect of the other offences, it is quite clear you were unable to keep your hands off young women and would sexually assault them at any opportunity, repeating it again and again and again because you never got caught and you were never punished."

"You showed your victims no mercy. You showed them no compassion and you have displayed no remorse or contrition since - either at trial or since. That is the sentence upon you. You thoroughly deserve it."

Mitigation

John Cammegh QC, representing Passway, said, "I have asked Mr Passway whether he has remorse. I am bound by my instructions. I am afraid I cannot, despite having spoken to Mr Passway just now, offer any remorse flowing from him because he denies the majority of these offences took place."

"Mr Passway knows he is going to die in prison."

Passway, of Bunce Road, Swindon, was found guilty over two trials of rape, indecent assault and indecency with a child. He was sentenced for 22 counts in total, including six counts of rape. The offences were committed in Wantage, Faringdon and Fairford.

Judge Daly imposed an extended year on licence, noting that the defendant would be well into his 90s before he was eligible for release on parole.

Senior Crown prosecutor James Bailey-Woodward for the Crown Prosecution Services Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit said, "Rick Passway unashamedly preyed on young girls for years, creating a culture of fear and intimidation to ensure that they would not speak out about his despicable crimes, allowing his offences to become more and more serious."

"He then denied any wrongdoing. It's thanks to the courage of his victims that we were able to put him before a jury who found him guilty."