Council leader hails paedophile as pillar of society

A council leader has provoked fury after coming out in support of a convicted paedophile – and hailing him as a ”pillar of society”. Councillor Jim Grimble, 61, (left) praised James Whittaker (right) – a monster who sexually abused four children over a 38 year period – for his ”considerable contribution to village life”.

Whittaker, 71, was jailed for eight years earlier this month after he posed as a respectable member of the community and carried out the vile offences. He was a rotarian and scout leader and was heavily involved in local events in the leafy village of Bishopsteignton, Devon. Whittaker’s status as a ”pillar of society” meant he was able to befriend parents in the local area, who he then subjected to a catalogue of systematic abuse.



But Cllr Grimble – vice chair of Bishopsteignton Parish Council – caused outrage when he came out in support of Whittaker, claiming ”nobody had a bad word against him”. He paid tribute to the ”respected” paedophile and called for residents to remember his good work in the community ”alongside the bad”. Cllr Grimble said: ”I know what he did was wrong, but this case has taken the community by surprise.

”He helped the village any way he could, and even gave up a piece of land for a footpath along the main road. I have yet to hear anybody say a bad word against him. It seems completely out of character. He was also involved with scouting, and as far as we know nothing untoward happened, and many of the scouts who are now grown up are grateful to his help and advice over the years.” Residents reacted furiously to Grimble’s comments, branding him ”despicable” and demanding he stand down as vice-chairman of the parish council.