Paedo who faked being in coma to keep away from jail caught ingesting Guinness at ‘Elvis night time’
John Siddell and his brother James spent more than four years tricking investigators and health officials that John was in a coma despite CCTV showing the pair walking, talking and drinking pints
This man claimed to be mute and incapacitated (Image: Leicestershire Police )
A paedo who faked being in a coma to avoid punishment for his sick crimes has been jailed after he was seen knocking back pints of Guinness at an Elvis Presley tribute night.
John Siddell, 41, was helped by his older brother James, 44, to con authorities that he was completely mute and immobile, arguing that his condition meant he could not have committed the despicable crimes he was accused of.
The twisted pair spent more than four years staging the elaborate rouse, which saw younger brother John pretend to be unable to move or talk while his brother pushed him in a wheelchair to avoid prosecution for a string of sex offences against three young boys.
Police said the pair “worked hard” to deliberately mislead the criminal justice system and medical professionals by “falsely claiming John suffered from numerous physical and psychological conditions, including pretending he had suffered a stroke.”
In June 2023, John was ruled to be unfit to plead or stand trial, however investigators became suspicious after CCTV captured John chatting, walking and boozing at a local social club despite appearing completely incapacitated during court-ordered appointments.
Cops said: “Even after being declared unfit to stand trial in June 2023, photos showed John had been out drinking and socialising throughout August, September, and October.”
“CCTV footage from June 2024 – just two months after his assessment in Blyth where he appeared completely incapacitated – captured John at this local social club, walking unaided and interacting with others.
“That same month, he attended another medical assessment where James claimed John was mute and unable to speak.”
Siddell was even caught enjoying himself at a local Elvis Presley tribute night, while photos obtained by the police showed the brazen creep tucking into pints of Guinness.
With what was becoming a mountain of evidence, cops moved in to arrest the Siddell brothers at their home. Despite being told the jig was up, John Siddell still tried to fake being incapacitated, with arresting officers having to drag him into their van, despite seeing the faker move his eyes and adjust his shirt.
Arresting officer DC Gibson said: “On the day I went to arrest John and James it was clear John was pretending to be mute and unresponsive.
“He was lying on the sofa in the living room with his eyes closed but I could see they were flickering.”
“When he was helped into the police van by officers, he was seen pulling his t-shirt down after it had ridden up slightly. The whole situation felt rather staged.”
John and James Siddell were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today (Tuesday 12 May) to a total of more than 17 years.
John Siddell, 41 was sentenced to a total of 15 years – 3 years and 2 months for perverting the course of justice and 11 years and 10 months for 15 child sex offences, while James Siddell was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months for perverting the course of justice
DC Gibson said: “This case shows the lengths some offenders will go to avoid justice. The brothers’ deception was calculated and sustained over several years, but through persistence and detailed investigation, we were able to expose the truth.
“Working closely with the CPS we were able to make sure the full scale of their offending was presented clearly before the court.”
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