Paedophile royal butler Paul Kidd to be sentenced

A paedophile royal butler from Greater Manchester who took one of his victims for tea with the Queen Mother is set to be sentenced.

Paul Kidd was told he faced a custodial sentence when he pleaded guilty to a string of historic sex offences at an earlier hearing.

Kidd, 55, of Stalybridge, was senior footman to the Queen Mother from 1979 to 1984 and previously worked as a royal butler to the Queen from 1977.

He introduced a youngster to the Queen Mother as a "friend" during a Christmas party at Clarence House - but in reality he had been assaulting the boy since the age of 14.

Kidd introduced one of his victims to a friend, David Hobday, 56, of Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, who also pleaded guilty to a number of sexual offences.

The former candidate for the UK Independence Party was caught after one of his three abuse victims read a newspaper article he gave on the 10th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

An investigation was launched and evidence of further abuse was uncovered during a search of his home in Castlehall View. Among items found on his computer were 18,019 images of unknown children and a video recording of him abusing another youngster as recently as 2006.

His third victim, who was treated to the royal tea party, came forward after reading publicity on the case when Kidd was charged by police.

Kidd pleaded guilty to nine counts of indecent assault, six counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted 11 counts of making indecent images of a child and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.

Hobday, of St John Street, pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of possessing an indecent image of a child, namely a video recording. Sentencing takes place at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Press Association