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Fred Talbot: Disgraced TV weatherman sentenced to five years in prison for indecently assaulting schoolboys

Talbot assaulted boys at a school when he was a teacher

Heather Saul
Friday 13 March 2015 13:55 GMT
Former television weather presenter Fred Talbot arrives to start giving his evidence at Manchester's Minshull Street Court, where he is standing trial charged with historical sexual offences
Former television weather presenter Fred Talbot arrives to start giving his evidence at Manchester's Minshull Street Court, where he is standing trial charged with historical sexual offences (PA)

Fred Talbot has been jailed for five years for indecently assaulting two boys whilst he was working as a teacher.

Talbot, who found fame on the floating weather map for ITV's top-rated This Morning show, was convicted by a Manchester jury in February.

He sat in the dock wearing glasses and a purple jumper over a shirt and grey trousers and showed no emotion as he was jailed. The 65-year-old appeared relaxed as he entered the dock and acknowledged people in the packed courtroom.

He was cleared of assaulting three other boys by a judge at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Suzanne Goddard QC, defending, said there was little that could be said in mitigation.

She said Talbot had lost a stone in weight during his time in custody but was "accustoming himself" to life in jail. Ms Goddard added: "He knows he must now receive a custodial sentence. He has come to terms with that."

Talbot worked as a teacher at Altrincham Grammar School between the 1960s and early 1980s before embarking on a career in television.

He was said to have been "obsessed" with teenage boys throughout his teaching career and "could not help himself" around them when under the influence of drink.

One of the diary entries released by Greater Manchester Police
One of the diary entries released by Greater Manchester Police

Talbot kept extensive diaries throughout all of his adult life and would detail his sexual desire for young boys. The entries, which were published by Greater Manchester Police, also revealed his fear at "how often I am seen with kids".

Sentencing Talbot, the judge said: "You deliberately and indecently assaulted the two of them for your own gratification."

Additional reporting by PA

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