A 74-year-old man, Anthony Fowler, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing two young boys in the 1990s. The case has stirred strong emotions, with one victim expressing frustration that Fowler did not receive a harsher punishment.
The abuse occurred when the victims, who were between six and ten years old, were subjected to horrifying acts. Fowler, who kept numerous animals, including an Alsatian-Wolf mix, forced one of his victims to engage in sexual acts with the dog after demonstrating the behaviour himself. The ‘foul smell’ of the animal-filled flat where the abuse took place has left a lasting impact on the survivors.
In a victim impact statement read in court, one survivor detailed the traumatic experience, describing his fear and isolation. He recounted being gagged and threatened by Fowler, who warned him to remain silent. The boy’s attempts to seek help from his mother were dismissed, leading to further abuse.
The victim described a harrowing three-decade-long struggle with flashbacks, suicide attempts, and bedwetting before he finally reported the abuse. He expressed anger at seeing Fowler on the bus and contemplated acting violently against him. The survivor’s wife intervened, prompting him to report the abuse to the police.
Another victim, who was just six years old at the time, testified about his distress and fear. He recalled begging his mother not to send him back to the “living nightmare” of Fowler’s abuse. He described the experience as a real-life nightmare, compounded by his feelings of shame and embarrassment.
Fowler, of Duncombe Road, Upper Holloway, was convicted of eight sex offences committed against the two boys. His sentence includes 16 years plus one year on license for buggery against the older victim and four years for indecent assault against the younger victim. The judge described Fowler’s actions as motivated by his sexual gratification and acknowledged the severe psychological harm inflicted on the victims.
The court was also informed of Fowler’s history of sexual offences, including incidents in 1969, 1978, 1980, and 1974. Despite this pattern of behaviour, Fowler had previously received probation or suspended sentences. His 2019 sentence was an eight-week prison term suspended for a year for possessing a bladed article.
Judge Cohen expressed gratitude to the victims for their bravery in coming forward and acknowledged the profound impact of Fowler’s crimes. The judge noted that the offences against the older victim would have been classified as the rape of a child under 13 if they had occurred today.
Legal changes have affected the charges. The law now considers buggery with an animal as illegal, but at the time of Fowler’s offences, it was not. Consequently, this charge had to be dropped during the proceedings.
