Paedophile pensioner fights attempt to extradite him to Falkland Islands


An elderly paedophile is fighting his extradition to face child sex allegations – claiming it could end in him dying in a prison thousands of miles away from his wife.
Brian Hudson, 78, was arrested at his British home last year, having been accused of the abuse of two young children in the Falkland Islands in the 1980s.
Hudson, who has convictions in Teesside and Newcastle, admitted some abuse to police, but denied the most serious claims, which today would amount to rape.
However, he is fighting an attempt by the authorities in the British Overseas Territory to fly him 8,000 miles to face a trial, and potentially life in jail.
He was arrested in September and has since been in a cell in Wandsworth Prison, awaiting a decision on his case.
At the High Court, Mr Justice Julian Knowles today granted Hudson his freedom on bail, but said he faces “very serious” allegations of crimes against children.
The charges include nine counts of indecent assault against a boy and girl and three serious sex assaults which would today be charged as rape.
“It is likely, in the event of a conviction, that he will receive a substantial period of imprisonment,” he said.
“Given his age, it is not an impossibility that he would spend the rest of his life in prison.”
The judge said Hudson plans to contest his extradition on the basis that it would be “unjust and oppressive” as the allegations are so old.
He also has a 77-year-old wife, who is in a care home with dementia and who he might never see again if he is extradited and convicted.
Lawyers for the Falkland Islands argued that Hudson should not be granted bail, given the risk of him fleeing or offending again.
As well as admitting some of the accusations to police, he has previous convictions for child abuse and an admitted “sexual interest” in children.
But Hudson insists that, following his conviction at Newcastle in 2002, he learned his lesson and has done nothing wrong since.
He now suffers from ill health and mobility issues, which would make it impossible for him to flee, he claimed.
He does not have a passport and, if he fled within in the UK, he would be forced to give himself away by registering with a GP and the DWP to get his pension.
Approving his release on bail with “stringent” conditions, Mr Justice Knowles said the allegations are of “extremely serious offences”.
“The fact they were allegedly committed many years ago doesn’t make them any less serious,” he said.
“On the other hand, there are a number of very unusual features in this case.
“He is a man who doesn’t travel easily. He has mobility problems, he has health problems, he has caring responsibilities for his wife and he himself needs a degree of care.
“I don’t regard it as a realistic possibility that he would either have the inclination or where with all to disappear in this country or abroad.”
He continued: “The fact is that all of the offences of which he was convicted were historic.
“The most recent was committed in 1996, some 22 years ago.
“I conclude, against that background, that there is no risk of him committing further offences over the year or so maximum that this extradition case will last.”
Hudson was bailed to an address which was not disclosed in open court due to fears that he could be targeted by vigilantes.
He is due to appear before magistrates in London in January when his extradition case will be heard.