A MAN who hinted he was a boat owner, though he wasn't, stalked children on the towpath at Leighton Buzzard, and was eventually caught as a child abuser and has now been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
At one time, 58 years old Michael McCarthy, contributed to several boating and canal photography forums, but it was realised he was attracted to the canal and particularly the towpath to stalk women and children of boating families.
Far back as 1980s
Appearing at St Alban's Crown Court for sentencing after being found guilty of a number of sexual assaults dating as far back as the 1980s, he was given 12 years imprisonment with an extension of four years.
One girl who was abused had told that though McCarthy threatened to kill her if she ever spoke out, she bravely went to report him to the police, and that started the whole investigation.
Using his interest in boating
It was discovered that he had stalked and abused a number of children, sometimes using his interest in boating to stalk them on the towpath then abuse them.
McCarthy was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both to run indefinitely.