A child abuser who almost escaped justice by pretending he was severely disabled was finally jailed after being caught out by his own CCTV cameras. 

John Siddell, 41, pretended he could not walk, open his eyes or even talk during psychiatric assessments - attending his interviews in a wheelchair with his head lolling on one side only to sit up when officials left the room. 

John colluded with his brother James, 44, to help mislead police, the courts, prison staff and medical professionals for four years about the severity of his health conditions, lying about having suffered a stroke and 'prolonging the suffering' of his three victims. 

James, on his brother's behalf, claimed he was disabled, mute and incontinent. 

But John was caught on camera strolling into a pub, posing with pints of Guinness and 'using his wheelchair as a trolley' to move furniture, walking more than a mile between two properties. 

Police officers also uncovered video footage and 'selfies' proving both were lying while a report found John was 'mute by malice' rather than unable to talk. 

One medic described him as 'the most verbal non-verbal person I have ever seen'. 

John Siddell was finally jailed on Tuesday after admitting 15 counts of sexual abuse of children under the age of 13 - one aged just four - between 2018 and 2021 while he was living in Leicestershire, as well as perverting the course of justice. 

Branding him 'dangerous' Judge Keith Raynor sentenced him to 15 years in jail with an extended licence of two years and made him the subject of a 20-year sexual harm prevention order

His brother James was jailed for two years and nine months after he admitted perverting the course of justice. 

Judge Raynor said both had 'entirely corrupted and undermined the criminal justice process' and had taken time and resources from the NHS and 'genuine, deserving patients. 

He said their offending was made up of 'multiple elements of deeply dishonest and scheming behaviour' describing one occasion when John appeared 'so disabled he had to crawl up stairs' at the custody suite only to be seen minutes later walking freely.

'He was exaggerating for effect just as he has done throughout this case,' he said.

The judge said another 'pathetic but poignant' piece of evidence was video of John being arrested and 'supposedly in a catatonic state but pulling his shirt down so that his belly was not exposed'.  

Judge Raynor said James Siddell had done 'everything in his power to mislead and deceive'.

The brothers, from Ashington in Northumberland, were sentenced in their absence at Leicester Crown Court after both refused to leave prison for the hearing. 

The court heard John's attempts at deception continued right up until the final moment when he claimed he could not get into court in his wheelchair. 

The victims first came forward in 2022 and John was charged in July that year. 

During initial psychiatric assessments, John was in a wheelchair, mute and James spoke on his behalf. This was a 'gross misrepresentation' of his condition, the court heard. 

But two different psychiatrists and a judge ruled he was unfit to plead in court. Instead, a trial of facts took place when a jury found he had committed the acts. 

The case was adjourned for sentencing and the court considered giving him a discharge or a supervision order - meaning he would not be jailed - but prosecutors and police officers became suspicious. 

Ahead of sentencing another psychiatrist found he was 'malingering' and there was 'no reliable basis for the finding that [John] was unfit to plead or stand trial' after  police obtained CCTV.

James said John's condition has deteriorated with most of his time spent in his wheelchair and incontinent. 

He claimed his brother was unable to climb stairs. As a number of the sexual offences had taken place upstairs at properties, James said John could not have committed those offences as alleged due to his disabilities. 

But footage obtained by the police shows John sat upright in his wheelchair communicating with James when approaching his solicitor's office 'before dramatically changing once arriving at the office for his assessment'. 

He was described as being 'comatose' when he was charged in July 2022 but the following day was pictured back at the social club.

Video footage from his own home CCTV showed him collecting mail while other images showed him socialising at his local working men's club, including at two Elvis nights and watching a Newcastle United football match. 

Claudia James, prosecuting, said: 'Despite the brothers seeking to portray John as 'unfit' to deceive the courts and professionals, outside of the proceedings they lived a not so covert double life. 

'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. 

'In psychiatric assessments, John aided by James appeared mute and so physically impaired that he could not even hold his own head up. 

'This could not be more different to the John captured walking, talking and engaging with others in his local social club.'

In July 2024 he was caught on CCTV walking down an alleyway to collect post at home. Hours later he was pictured being wheeled into an ambulance slumped in his chair. 

The judge said this was 'entirely a deliberate ruse orchestrated by James and John Siddell'. 

He spent two weeks in a rehabilitation unit 'at taxpayers expense' where he surprised staff with his 'chatty and jokey' manner with one describing him as 'the most verbal non verbal person I have ever seen'. 

The court heard 321 messages were sent and received by John during the two weeks he was in hospital. 

Evidence shows John even took 'selfies' at the social club in which he was able to smile and pose. 

In police video footage he could be seen adjusting clothing and moving independently when in police custody thinking nobody was looking. 

Detectives obtained statements from people who knew the brothers saying they were regularly out socialising and interacting with other people. 

In August 2024, both were due in court but failed to appear - it was alleged John had suffered a seizure and was taken to hospital. 

Warrants for their arrest for issued and they were hauled to court the following day where they were both remanded in custody. 

John later pleaded guilty to all 17 charges but then tried to vacate his pleas - his request was refused and he was finally sentenced yesterday, when he again refused to attend court. 

Ms James added: 'Even when remanded in separate prisons and James therefore losing his ability to assist or encourage, John continued to frustrate proceedings up until 22 August 2025 by claiming he was unable to use the stairs from the cells to the court room. 

'Despite these claims, CCTV from the cells at court and the prison captured John walking unaided and engaging with custody staff prior to the hearing.

'In a final act of trying to delay the inevitable John tried to vacate his guilty pleas unsuccessfully on 20 January 2026.'   

Jamie Adams, in mitigation for John, said his mother and grandmother had - when they were alive - exaggerated the extent his disabilities 'in order to get some financial benefits'. 

He said authorities had been 'questionning the family's honesty for a very long time'. 

Nick Peacock, for James Siddell, said it was a 'generationally dysfunctional family' who relied on the benefits system for survival. He said he had a 'misplaced loyalty' towards his brother.  

The court heard the victims, who cannot be named, have been profoundly affected by the abuse. 

One of the victims asked his mother 'what is sexual abuse?' before confiding in her about what had happened. 

One said he was left feeling 'confused and lost'. He said he spends 22 hours a day in his bedroom and has had no romantic relationships. 

Another said he struggled to understand why the case had gone on for so long. 

A family member said the 'delay was entirely because of the lies and deceit of John and James which had prolonged the suffering of everyone involved'. 

Nicola Potts of the Crown Prosecution Service said afterwards: '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 victims of sexual abuse who had their childhood snatched from them by John Sidell's cruel manipulation. 

'His cynical lies and the support he received from James was a further insult to these victims. 'Our dedication to giving these victims the justice they deserved has been absolute. 

'These defendants thought they could trick their way out of justice, but John Siddell has been exposed as a cynical, dishonest predator and James Siddell for his complicity in his brother's criminal activities. 

'They have faced the full force of the law for their vile offending.'