A paedophile who faked a severe disability to avoid being prosecuted for child abuse was caught out by CCTV. John Siddell, 41, of Chestnut Street, Ashington, Northumberland, pretended to be a non-verbal wheelchair user who was unable to hold up his own head, while he carried out a string of offences against three boys. Leicestershire Police obtained CCTV footage of the 41-year-old walking, talking, and socialising, despite appearing completely incapacitated during court-ordered appointments. His brother, James Siddell, 44, lied to the police about the severity of John’s health conditions. When Matt Gibson, a detective who first became suspicious of the brothers in 2024, went to arrest the siblings, John continued to try and maintain the facade. On Tuesday (12 May), John and his brother, also of Chestnut Street, Ashington, Northumberland, were convicted of perverting the course of justice James Siddell was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months. John Siddell was sentenced to a total of 15 years – 3 years and 2 months for perverting the course of justice and 11 years and 10 months for 15 child sex offences.