A VICTIM of Michael Kellard said the actions of the go-karting instructor made him feel "uneasy" around men in power.

Michael Kellard was found guilty of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual activity with a child, four counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and five counts of indecent assault on Wednesday, November 8, following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He was sentenced at the same court on Monday, December 11, to 18 years in prison and placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, as well as being made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years.

The incidents occurred between 2000 and 2005 and involved boys that Kellard met through his job in go-karting. The offences occurred in a number of locations across the country, including Dorset.

One of the victims said in a victim statement: “My ability to interact with others has been diminished.

“Not only personal but my work relationships. When a male coworker gets made a supervisor I have a very uneasy feeling when a male has power over me.

“I feel vulnerable and frightened when I feel someone is watching over me.

“I feel like a child trapped inside an adult’s body.

“My heart leaps out of my chest when I am going somewhere new."

The victim said he came forward to police after the death of his dog, as he had no one he could talk to about the assaults.

He said: “I carried a lot of shame for years and I was afraid of how others would judge me.

"I acquired a dog who I could talk to about it.

"After my dog died I relied on whiskey and weed to get me through it.

"I got the courage to tell the police about the abuse."

The victim has been referred to therapy through Motorsport UK, the governing body for go-karting in the UK.

Motorsport UK praised the victims of Michael Kellard for coming forward and said they would conduct a full review of the matter.

The investigation began in June 2021 after one of the victims reported the abuse they suffered to the police.

Kellard was subsequently arrested and interviewed by officers.

Detective Constable Andy Hale, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT), said: “Kellard subjected his victims to abhorrent sexual abuse and I would like to praise them for their strength in speaking out about what happened.

“I hope this case will show that we take all incidents of sexual abuse seriously, no matter when an incident occurred, and we will do all we can to ensure sexual offenders are brought to justice.

“Sexual abuse has a long-lasting impact on victims and I am pleased that following an investigation, Kellard has been held accountable for his crimes.”

 

How to report child abuse

Dorset Police: For non-urgent reports, or to make an enquiry, visit www.dorset.police.uk where you can pass on the details of your concerns to us using the online enquiry form. You can also call 101. If you believe a child is in immediate danger please dial 999.

Crimestoppers: Call anonymously on 0800 555 111

Local Children’s Social Care:

  • STARS Dorset www.starsdorset.org/children-and-young-persons-service / 01202 308858
  • The Shores - Dorset SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) 01202 552 056
  • Dorset Council (Children’s Advice and Duty Service) 01305 228866

You can also report directly to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) www.ceop.police.uk