Paedophile who abused victims over 28 years jailed

Paul Whysall, now 80, abused three boys from the age of 11

Report by BBC Isle of Man

A paedophile whose "disgusting behaviour" had a "devastating" impact on his four victims over a period of three decades has been jailed for 12 years.

Paul Whysall, now 80, abused three boys from the age of 11 and one 19-year-old woman between 1995 and 2023, Douglas Courthouse heard.

When he was arrested on 29 September 2023, he was also found with 51 indecent images and one indecent video, including one picture rated at the most serious category.

Jailing him for 22 counts of indecent assault and nine counts of making indecent images, Deemster Graeme Cook said Whysall had been a "sexual predator" since the mid 1990s.

The court was told how Whysall, of Douglas, would wear women's underwear and show it to his victims as part of the way he groomed them.

All three child victims described being "confused" by what was happening and "scared" of Whysall.

A victim impact statement read to the court from one man, who was assaulted from the age of 11 over a six-year period, said he was left feeling "shame and guilt".

'Stole my childhood'

He said it was not until his late 20s when he understood "how wrong it was", and decided to report Whysall to police, fearing he could still target others.

He contacted Whysall on the pretence of wanting to meet up and, when Whysall began using sexual language, he collected the evidence to present it to police, and the abuser was arrested.

He initially denied all the allegations and entered not guilty pleas to all 31 charges but later admitted the offences.

"Looking back I feel Paul stole my childhood and I cannot get those years back," one victim said.

Another, who was assaulted by Whysall from the age of 11 over a 12 year period, said: "Thinking back makes me physically sick.

"I was a happy kid, he took my happiness away from me.

"I don't feel any sentence Paul receives will ever make me feel better.

"A man who was assaulted at the age of 11 or 12 said he felt he had been "sexualised from a young age".

The woman he attacked said: "I know there will never be closure, no one can make the situation better."

Deemster Cook noted that two of the offences would be classed as rape under new legislation, but as they were committed "some time ago" they were categorised as indecent assault, which holds a much shorter sentence.

He described Whysall's offending as "disgusting" and going "beyond anyone's imagination".

As well as the jail sentence, he also placed him under a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, banning him from contacting the victims or having contact with any children.

Regarding the victims, the deemster told Whysall: "Your behaviour against them has had a devastating effect.

"Some of them may never get over it, but I hope they do."