This is the face of a paedophile who pretended he was disabled so he could avoid jail for child sex abuse in the Midlands.
John Siddell claimed he was a wheelchair user, mute and unable to hold up his own head. But he was filmed walking unaided and socialising at Elvis Presley nights at a social club when he said he was unfit to travel.
The 41-year-old said he had a severe illness when police launched an investigation into reports he abused three boys, who were under 14. His offences took place between 2018 and 2021 while he was living in Leicestershire.
His brother James Siddell, 44, even helped him maintain his lie and told psychiatrists that he was unfit to stand trial for his crimes.
Brothers Jailed for Deception
John was jailed for 15 years, with a two-year extended licence period, at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday, May 12. His brother was jailed for two years and nine months.
The court heard how the brothers lived a 'not-so-covert double life'. Prosecutor Claudia James said: 'The brothers’ busy social lives in part unravelled their deception, as documented by social media, photos taken on their phones and their own home CCTV.'
When John appeared physically impaired it 'could not be more different' to him being pictured 'walking, talking and engaging with others in his local social club', including to watch a Newcastle United match, she said.
John took selfies in which he was able to smile and pose with his head up and eyes open. In one photo, he was drinking a pint of Guinness, the court heard. He was seen in video footage walking unaided and using his wheelchair like a 'trolley' to move household items over a mile in June 2022.
A statement from someone who cared for him in hospital in July 2024 said he was 'the most verbal non-verbal person I have ever seen'.
Deception Unravelled
John convinced psychiatrists he was unfit to take part in a criminal trial during an assessment when his brother spoke on his behalf. He 'presented as wheelchair-bound, refused to open his eyes and was unable to hold his own head up', Ms James said.
In a fact-finding hearing, a jury determined that he had abused the boys. Another psychiatrist concluded in May 2024 that there was 'no reliable basis' that John was unfit to stand trial.
A month earlier, a police officer saw him 'sat upright in his wheelchair communicating with James' before 'dramatically changing once arriving at the office for his assessment'.
After being charged with perverting the course of justice, the brother did not attend a plea hearing in July 2025 when it was claimed that John had suffered a seizure and was taken to hospital.
In September, John admitted five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, five counts of sexual assault, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and four counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. Both brothers admitted perverting the course of justice between November 2021 and August 2025.
Victims' Statement
A statement read to court on behalf of the victims - who cannot be identified - said they are 'still dealing with the effects of the abuse'. The brothers, now of Bolam Drive, Ashington, Northumberland, did not attend their sentencing hearing.
Jamie Adams, defending John, said the defendant is a 'very vulnerable and disadvantaged human being' who has been diagnosed with epilepsy, autism and learning disabilities. John's relatives have 'exaggerated John’s ill-health throughout his life to get some financial benefit'.
Nicholas Peacock, defending James, said he was in a 'generationally dysfunctional family who largely survived on the benefits system'.
Sentencing, Judge Keith Raynor said the brothers' behaviour was 'scheming and devious'. He said: 'They misrepresented John Siddell’s mental and physical abilities, the behaviour of both of them entirely corrupting and undermining the course of justice.'
Judge Raynor said John was kept in hospital for two weeks 'at the taxpayers’ expense' while an 'extremely pressed National Health Service should have been doing their job with other deserving patients'.
Nicola Potts, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'While much of the attention in this case will be the lies and antics of the Siddell brothers, at the heart of this are three sexual abuse victims who had their childhood snatched from them by John Siddell’s cruel manipulation. His cynical lies and the support he received from James was a further insult to these victims.'
