Shirley Bassey backing singer exposed as serial paedophile is caged for 18 years for abuse of 3 boy

A SERIAL paedophile who once supported Dame Shirley Bassey on tour has been caged for 18 years for abusing three children over nine years.

Singer William "Billy" Nutt, who ran a number of pubs after his entertainment career, committed a series of offences with three separate victims between 1998 and 2007.

The abuse was reported to Kent Police between 2014 and 2016 and Nutt, of Week Street, Maidstone, Kent, was arrested.

He was later charged with 21 sexual offences involving children at locations in Maidstone, Dartford and Broadstairs.

Nutt, 62, pleaded not guilty and was convicted after a 12-day trial. The 62-year-old was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday April 26 2022 following an earlier trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Nicky Spicer of the North Kent Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: "Nutt has subjected three vulnerable young victims to appalling crimes for his own gratification. This was compounded when he pleaded not guilty at the trial and forced the victims to revisit their ordeals whilst giving evidence.

"I would like to commend the three victims for the courage they have shown in ensuring their abuser has now been convicted. This sentence illustrates once again our determination to investigate all reports of non-recent sex offences and I hope it will encourage other victims of this type of abuse to come forward.

"We have a team of specialist officers who work relentlessly to ensure that offenders like Nutt do not evade justice, just because a crime may have happened a long time ago.

"I would also like to assure anyone who may have been a victim of abuse that they will be treated with the utmost care and understanding." In March 2015 Nutt found was found guilty of sexual assault on a boy aged four after a week-long trial.

He had known the boy's family for several years and said he would take him to McDonald's and the park before the assault.

The boy told his mother Nutt had touched him inappropriately and said “not to tell anyone, it’s our little secret”. In 2019 was jailed for nine months for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

One of Nutt's victims told Kentonline: "My anger, sadness and guilt towards this situation has controlled me for over two decades and it will not from this moment on.

"The fact that I’ve had to stand up in a court full of people and tell them exactly what happened to me is the most embarrassing and shameful moment of my life.

"Having to tell my mother, partner and loved ones intimate details about this abuse is something that I wouldn’t wish on anybody.

"Thank you to my family and friends for being there every step of the way, Kent Police, the Crown Prosecution Service and prosecution barrister Madeline Wolfe."

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “It is clear from the sheer volume and timescale of Nutt’s child abuse that he felt no real remorse for his destructive behaviour.

“But thanks to the commendable courage of those he abused, this dangerous sexual predator is being forced to face consequences of his actions.

“The NSPCC is urging anyone who has suffered abuse as a child, no matter how long ago it happened, to come forward to the police or our NSPCC helpline.

"Anyone with concerns about a child, even if they’re unsure, can also contact the NSPCC helpline to speak to one of the charity’s professionals on 0808 800 5000, by email at help@nspcc.org.uk or by filling in the online form. "Children can contact Childline.”