Witnesses 'warned over collusion'

A SENIOR investigating officer told a jury yesterday how police did all they could to try to avoid collusion between any potential witnesses involved in allegations of sex abuse by a Norfolk pensioner, who was made an MBE for his charity work with youngsters.

The third week of the trial of Henry Day, known as Harry, at Norwich Crown Court Det Chief Insp Debbie Gunnill said that potential witnesses were all given letters which reminded them not to contact others involved in the case.

She said: “I wanted to make it clear how it important it was that they did not discuss their evidence with other people.”

She said the witnesses were all handed letters directly and said: “It's a reminder to them not to have contact with anyone else.”

However she denied it was like “shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted” and said police had done all they could to try to prevent collusion.

Day denies a range of offences including indecent assault, indecent assault against under-16s, incitement to indecent assault and carrying out an indecent act.

There are eight alleged victims and the charges date over a period from 1973 to 1995.

Day, 69, of Wood View, North Walsham, also denies perverting the course of justice after allegedly contacting a witness in the case

in an attempt to persuade them to change their story.

Day has run the Young Citizens' Guild in Hemsby near Yarmouth since 1972 and organised holiday and weekend camps for about 100 children to help them develop into upstanding members of the community.

In the 2004 New Year Honours, he was made an MBE for his voluntary work and he has also been awarded a British Empire Medal for his work in helping young people aged eight to 18 grow up to become responsible citizens.

Day originally set up the Young Citizens' Guild in Walthamstow London in 1957 and he moved his organisation to Hemsby in 1972

The trial continues.