Paedophile weatherman Fred Talbot jailed for 8 more months

Jailed former TV weatherman Fred Talbot moaned that his convictions cost him his career, savings and four stone in weight as he was given a further eight months in prison for molesting a tenth victim.

The 67-year-old ex-This Morning presenter was hauled back to court on Wednesday, where he admitted sexually assaulting a 19-year-old man he invited to a drink fuelled fancy dress party in 1980.

The latest victim was sleeping over with other revellers at Talbot’s home in Bowdon, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester when he woke up to find the star naked and performing oral sex on him.

When he protested Talbot retorted: ‘It’s ok – close your eyes and pretend I’m your girlfriend.’

The offence took place in June 1980, at a time when Talbot was a biology teacher at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.

Talbot is currently serving a five-year jail term imposed in Manchester for abusing two former pupils at the school in the 1970s and ’80s.

Last May he was given another four years jail in Scotland for abusing seven more boys during school camping trips in the same period.

Stone Roses singer Ian Brown another former pupil at the school twice testified as what he saw Talbot do to his former classmates. The rocker was not a victim of abuse.

Up until now Talbot, had always denied wrongdoing – forcing victims to relive their ordeals in the witness box.

On Wednesday, Talbot appeared by video link from Wymott Jail in Lancs and said sorry to the latest victim who was not a former pupil at the school as he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and jailed for a further eight months to run consecutively to his other sentence.

The 67-year old ex-This Morning presenter (pictured in Liverpool in 1990) was hauled back to court on Wednesday, where he admitted sexually assaulting a 19-year-old man he invited to a fancy dress party in 1980

During the hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester the disgraced former TV star moaned the convictions had cost him his career, savings, reputation, and four stone in weight. It is thought he could be free again in 2019.

The latest victim, now 57, said in a statement: ‘I never told anyone about what happened and always felt it was my fault for wearing a dress to the fancy dress party and staying out.

‘I couldn’t go back to the local pub after that night as I knew Fred went there drinking and it affected who I hung around with.

‘I didn’t even know Fred was gay as I remember him having a girlfriend so didn’t think anyone would believe me. My family went on canal trips with him and my mum thought Fred was great.’

Earlier prosecuting Mr Neil Usher said the victim went to police in 2015 following publicity about Talbot’s arrest.

Mr Usher added: ‘He and his family had been invited to a fancy dress party at Mr Talbot’s home. The victim’s family left relatively early and the victim, who wore a dress to the fancy dress party, wished to stay with the defendant’s permission and others were also staying over night.

‘The complainant went to find somewhere to sleep and found a bed and undressed to his underwear and a T-shirt. He had about four alcoholic drinks.

Talbot, pictured in 2015, is currently serving a five-year jail term imposed in Manchester for abusing two former pupils at the school in the 1970s and ’80s. Last May he was given another four years jail in Scotland for abusing seven more boys during school camping trips in the same period

‘But at some point in the evening he was awoken by Talbot performing oral sex upon him. He jumped up and Talbot said ‘it’s ok, close your eyes and pretend I’m your girlfriend’. He replied no and attempted to leave.

‘Talbot stood in the way and told him if he didn’t like it he could do it to him but the victim pushed past. He went home didn’t tell anyone about the incident.’

Talbot initially falsely claimed he had been having a relationship with the victim.

Mr Usher said: ‘What the victim hoped for was an acknowledgement from Mr Talbot that the offence happened.

‘That was not done by Mr Talbot when interviewed by the police. The victim indicated were that acknowledgement to come he was not particularly concerned about the matter proceeding. What he wished for was an admission of wrongdoing.’

In mitigation defence counsel Guy Gozem QC said: ‘The offending by this defendant happened 35 years ago. There’s been no repetition or allegation of any offending since then. In the meantime the defendant has been convicted and jailed – no doubt to protect the public

‘But as a consequence of the sentences he has lost, obviously, his freedom, his career, his savings, his reputation and as he sees it presently – his future. It may be obvious to those who have seen him that he’s also lost four stone in weight.

During the hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester Talbot, pictured left in 2004 and right in 2015, moaned the convictions had cost him his career, savings, reputation, and four stone in weight. It is thought he could be free again in 2019

The television personality regularly appeared on a floating weather map in Liverpool’s Albert Dock for ITV’s This Morning show for several years

‘His earliest release date will be in 2019 but then he will be in his 70’s and a man who has not committed offences for the best part of 40 years. This can be and should be the final piece of the jigsaw.

‘The victim’s principle concern was an acknowledgment of wrongdoing by Fred Talbot. That he has and I add Mr Talbot publicly apologising for the suffering the victim indicated.

‘Mr Talbot is pleased that the victim may be able to move forward without those matters hanging over him. This therefore is not a case of ‘oh Fred Talbot has been at it again – this is not such a case at all.’

Passing sentence Judge John Potter told Talbot: ‘You had sought this complainant out when he was significantly younger than you and you exploited his vulnerability when he was lying asleep in a bed.

‘The effect upon him has been marked and profound and he has struggled with what you did to him that night throughout the rest of his life and he continues to struggle now. The offence committed by you in the 80s can be viewed as part of an offending pattern by you in which over a significant period of time you were willing to sexually abuse younger males – almost all of whom were children in your care.

‘You were a sexual predator who exploited the vulnerability of others younger than you for the purposes of your own sexual gratification.’

Talbot completed his teacher training in Gateshead in the 1960s before being appointed a biology master at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys in 1971. 

Talbot’s home was raided by police in December 2012, whilst he was on a holiday cruise and he was arrested the following April. He’s pictured above on a canal trip in the 1970s or ’80s

Talbot first stood trial in January 2015 accused of abusing four former pupils at Altrincham Grammar and a fifth from the Newcastle area, during a canal holiday. He’s pictured above on a canal trip in the 1970s or ’80s

He left in 1984 under a cloud after he propositioned two pupils at his semi detached home in Bowdon but the scandal was kept a secret and he began presenting regional news programmes for ITV.

He became a weatherman for the ITV’s This Morning in 1988 where he became known for presenting forecasts from a large floating map of the British Isles at the Albert Dock in Liverpool.

His home was raided by police in December 2012, whilst he was on a holiday cruise and he was arrested the following April.

He first stood trial in January 2015 accused of abusing four former pupils at Altrincham Grammar and a fifth from the Newcastle area, during a canal holiday.

It was claimed he showed gay pornography during classes and kept diaries detailing his fantasies about boys at the school.

In February 2015 Talbot was found guilty of indecent assault against two of the boys and cleared of eight further charges and was subsequently jailed for five years.

But in May this year he appeared at Lanark Sheriff Court and was convicted of indecent assault against seven other boys boys during camping and boating trips to Scotland. He was sentenced to a further four years to start from 14 August, after he had served half of his five year stretch.

The offences took place on separate occasions during visits to the St Mary’s Loch area near Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway and the Caledonian canal near Inverness.

All the boys told of their excitement at going on the excursions – sometimes the first time away from their parents – only for Talbot to exploit his position to engineer situations to target them with his sexual advances after plying them with alcohol.