A PAEDOPHILE who fled the UK for two years rather than face trial is now in prison.

Damien Midgley, 39, was due to be tried at York Crown Court in 2014 for child sex offences, but did not attend the hearing - instead fleeing to Thailand then Cambodia, and instructing his counsel to proceed with the trial without him.

Midgley denied charges of sexually assaulting four girls, all under the age of 13, while working as a riding instructor.

He was convicted in his absence and sentenced to six years in prison, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

York Crown Court heard today that Midgley was arrested in a bar in Cambodia last week, and brought back to the UK to face justice.

York Press:

Midgley surrounded by Cambodian authorities prior to being deported.

Gerald Hendron, for Midgley, said his client should be given credit for admitting his breach of bail, despite the length of time he had been on the run.

He said: "His explanation, unsurprisingly, is simply that the enormity of what he faced was too much for him and he took flight and was fearful of the consequences. But they, of course, have now caught up with him."

Recorder of York Paul Batty QC sentenced Midgley to eight months for failing to attend his original trial, which will be served on top of the original six year sentence.

Judge Batty said the offences "constituted a gross breach of trust, where parents had entrusted their children to you to look after", and condemned his actions which led to a delay in the trial before the girls had to relive their ordeal before the courts while Midgley was overseas.

Detective Constable Vicki Hildred led the original investigation into the abuse, and said Midgley's actions added to the trauma he had already inflicted on his victims. 

Det Con Hildred said: "I would like to pay tribute to the four victims, who found the courage to speak out about what Damian Midgley did to them. It is important to highlight that these young people were subjected to giving evidence at Midgley’s trial in his absence, when he chose to flee the country. 

"Without their bravery, he would never have been brought to justice. He abused his position as a horse riding instructor, betraying the trust of these children and their families. This was a protracted investigation that took a number of years to bring to trial. Even then, Midgley continued to deny all his offending."

More to follow.