Judge describes Nicholas Taylor as ‘an intelligent man, but a monster’ as he jails him and his wife, Joan Taylor

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A husband and wife described as “master manipulators” after being convicted of scores of drug and child sex offences have been jailed.

Nicholas Taylor, 47, was handed a life sentence and will be in prison for 18 years after being found guilty of 62 charges, while Joan Taylor, 44, was found guilty of 22 offences – including rape, indecency with a child and supply of class A drugs – and also sentenced to 18 years.

Both had pleaded guilty to other offences before the trial began at Leicester crown court in February.

Sentencing them, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: “You [Nicholas Taylor] caused children to become addicted to drugs and you used their bodies for your pleasure.

“In truth your behaviour stems from craven lack of any moral compass and your depraved appetite for drugs and sexual gratification. You raped children. You are an intelligent man, but a monster.

“I have looked to see whether you have any redeeming characteristics, whether there might be any prospect that you will ever be anything better than a monster. I see no good in you, I see no prospect of you changing.”

He said Taylor had not “a shred of remorse”. The judge added: “The jury heard evidence to the effect that to the outside world you were, in the indictment period, portraying yourself as a reformed character, someone who had experienced the depravity of the drugs world and had emerged rehabilitated.

“While in fact, at the same time, you were depriving and corrupting young people with drugs and abusing them sexually. You are a very, very dangerous man.”

Addressing Joan Taylor, Dean said: “You, despite your not guilty pleas, have shown remorse for your behaviour.”

The judge said the actions of Taylor and his wife had a devastating effect on the lives of their victims.

One, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: “A few years ago I tried to kill myself. I wanted to die because of what he [Nicholas Taylor] has done to me. What happened was a long time ago but it still feels so raw.”

Staring at Taylor – who was slouched in the dock stroking his beard throughout the tearful statement – the woman, now in her 30s, said: “I would have been a different person if it had not been for him. What happened is there every day. I don’t have to think back to it, I live it every day.

“I’m not going to have any children because I don’t want to bring them into the world I live in.”

The crimes involved boys and girls as young as 11, between 1996 and 2006. The 11 victims were aged 16 or under.

Isabella Forshall, mitigating for Taylor, said: “As bad as this case is, it’s not one of the very worst.”

Emily Culverhouse, for his wife, said: “When Nick was not around, Joan was a different person. She was under Nick’s control at all times. She was controlled by both drugs and violence. This offending – in my submission – would not have occurred had it not been for him.”

Taylor gave a thumbs-up from the dock and said “Yeah, spot on” as he was sent down while his wife walked towards cells without showing any emotion.