Child molester Anthony Shackell from Calcot is in custody awaiting sentence

A child molester awaits his verdict after the jury saw through his lies.

The police first investigated Anthony Shackell’s serious crimes years ago, but at the time they did not have enough evidence to bring charges against him.

The fate of the former treasurer of a social club was finally sealed by the courageous testimony of an eight-year-old girl he had recently abused.

The girl’s father had gone to the police – and detectives reopened the original case, which led to a trial before a jury at Reading Crown Court this month.

Shackell, now 81 and living in Mey Close, Calcot, denied 18 charges relating to child rape, sexual abuse by penetration and sexual touching of girls.

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After a week-long trial, he was found guilty on all but two of the lesser charges.

Prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson told the jury that Shackell had gained access to one of the victims and first touched her breasts over her clothing.

The court heard that serious sexual assaults involving penetration had occurred.

The court heard that Mr Shackell had threatened to rape a member of her family if she did not comply with his request.

Mr Ward-Jackson said: “He pushed her onto the bed, spread her legs, lay on top of her and raped her.”

“She fought back and tried to push him away… she cried – but he claimed she enjoyed it.”

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She said Mr Shackell then threatened to rape a member of her family and she made him promise not to do so if she cooperated.

The witness, now an adult, said in court: “I asked him to promise me that he would not do that to them. I made him make that promise.”

Still, she added, she resisted when Mr. Shackell began to rape her.

The woman told the jury: “I tried to kick him. I said ‘no’ and told him to stop.”

“I said, ‘Please don’t do this.’ I cried.”

Afterwards, she claimed, Mr Shackell said to her: “That was good – we’ll do it again.”

The court heard that Mr Shackell behaved similarly towards another girl, raping her repeatedly.

Eventually, the two victims contacted each other and went to the police, which initially led to the police investigation coming to a standstill.

Shackell might have gone to his grave unpunished for his crimes had it not been for more recent crimes – this time involving the eight-year-old.

The girl told police: “He put his hand down my pants and touched my genitals, and I didn’t like that.”

She said she pulled his hand away and said “stop” before bursting into tears and telling her family what had allegedly happened.

Her father went to the police, who reopened their original investigation and this time brought charges against Shackell.

During the trial, he tried to convince the jury that all three victims were liars and that he must be innocent because of his erectile dysfunction.

He claimed that the Viagra prescribed to treat his illness had given him headaches and that the prosecutor simply had “an evil disposition”.

After the verdict, Judge Alan Blake asked for pre-sentence reports.

In the meantime, he refused to release Shackell on bail and ordered his remand.