A FORMER South Dorset MP escaped prosecution for child abuse, newly-released files reveal.

Victor Montagu, a rightwing Tory MP and one-time political secretary to Stanley Baldwin, was let off with a caution by the director of public prosecutions in 1972 for indecently assaulting a boy for nearly two years.

The decision by Sir Norman Skelhorn QC meant Montagu never stood trial and his paedophile activities were never exposed.

A letter from prosecutors states: “The assaults, which are admitted, are not of themselves very serious, and if Mr Montagu is prepared to take the excellent advice given to him by Det Ch Insp [Jack] Newman and avoid any contact with the boy in the future I do not think that proceedings are called for.”

Montagu was South Dorset MP from 1941-1962. He became 10th Earl of Sandwich in 1964 but renounced the title to stand for parliament again as an independent.

The files were released after 40 years following a Freedom on Information request.

They show that the boy was interviewed in 1972 and two officers visited Montagu's Mapperton home and interviewed him under caution.

He was later charged by police with two counts of indecently assaulting a male under 16 on a number of occasions between 31 December 1970 and January 1972 and of indecently assaulting the same boy between 31 December 1971 and November 1972. He was remanded to appear at Bridport magistrates court.

But when the then chief constable of Dorset and Bournemouth, Arthur Hambleton, wrote to Skelhorn for advice on the case, prosecutors chose to give Montagu a caution instead of proceeding with a criminal trial in public.

A note, from the DPP’s office endorsing the decision, said the case was “borderline” but because Montagu was of “previous good character” and there was “no fear of repetition with this boy … we could caution”.

According to the files, Montagu said of the accusations: “That’s simply romping about with children either with clothes on or not doesn’t amount to that … there was no vice or criminality involved.”

Speaking of the newly-released files, Robert told the Guardian that he had 'no idea' his father had been visited by the police or charged. 

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Robert Montagu was abused by his father from the age of 7 to 11

Last year, Montagu's son Robert published his book Humour of Love detailing the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father and spoke to the News about his ordeal.

He believes around 20 other young boys suffered the same abuse.

When his sisters discovered him in the bath with his father when he was 11 the full story of what had been happening during their early morning ‘story sessions’ was revealed.

But bewilderingly for the young boy nothing was done and, although the abuse stopped, it left deep scars.
He recently published a book, detailing the abuse, in a bid to help other victims to speak out. 

Robert went on to have a successful career as a psychotherapist, a happy 40-year marriage, four children and nine grandchildren and start a charity for Dorset children with emotional difficulties.

Robert has met many of his father’s victims, and many, as he did, loved the man despite his crimes.
But that is no reason for silence, he said.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Robert wrote his book to encourage other victims of abuse to speak out

“I protected the man and blamed myself. Also I was silenced by the wishes of the family not to denounce the man.

“We protect our own – even the predator himself. 

“That is what makes us human. Yet it is vital that we do not protect predators when it is likely they will continue to abuse, as he did.

“We must not hide from reality or from guilt or from a sense of family shame. We must expose the beast within the barricades even when he is a worthy man.”

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

The family home where Robert's abuse took place

David Lewis, Assistant Chief Constable at Dorset Police, said: “As the files released show, detectives charged the suspect with two counts of indecently assaulting a male under 16 and prosecutors decided to issue a caution.

“The actions and decisions of people over 40 years ago should not reflect on those involved in the criminal justice system now.

Dorset Police takes any allegation involving child sexual abuse very seriously and investigates them thoroughly.

"We would strongly encourage anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to speak to us, regardless of whether those offences took place recently or in the past.”