Vile paedophile friend of Charlene Downes’s father was probed ‘for abusing’ the missing

A convicted paedophile and friend of Charlene Downes’ father was investigated for sexually abusing the missing teenager, a Daily Mail podcast has revealed.

Police investigated Ray Munro and passed a file to prosecutors about his alleged abuse of Charlene and another girl, two years after she disappeared.

But by then, he was in prison for child sex crimes and was not charged.

Detective Superintendent Gareth Willis, senior investigating officer for Lancashire Police, told the podcast that the records are ‘a little ambiguous’ and claims it is unclear why Munro was never prosecuted.

He added: ‘It may be due to the fact he had been convicted of serious sexual offences and [was already] serving a lengthy sentence.’ 

It is widely known Munro was staying with Charlene’s parents, Karen and Bob Downes, at their family home in Blackpool on November 1, 2003 when the 14-year-old vanished.

At that time, Munro, who met Charlene’s father in a pub, had already pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of four children, all under the age of ten, who he used to babysit. Mr Downes accompanied him to Blackpool Crown Court three days later for the sentencing.

But Mr and Mrs Downes have repeatedly denied knowing the nature of Munro’s crimes before that day.

Munro was jailed for four years after admitting three counts of indecent assault and one of exposure against three girls and indecently assaulting a six-year-old boy.

Charlene Downes, 14, vanished without a trace from her home town of Blackpool more than two decades ago

Mrs Downes, 59, told Nicola Thorp – host of the Daily Mail’s new Charlene: Somebody Knows Something podcast – Munro claimed he was going to court because he had made a ‘drunken mistake with his girlfriend’. She said she had no idea he was being sentenced for ‘awful’ sexual abuse.

However, the podcast reveals that during Munro’s stay with the family, he and Charlene got into a row when he accused her of stealing money.

In the exchange, the teenager shouted at Munro: ‘I hope you go down for what you did.’

Mr Downes, 62, claimed his daughter was talking about the other children Munro had abused and ‘not her’. But Ms Thorp suggested that questions remain over how, if Charlene’s parents did not know about the abuse, their daughter had been aware of it.

Accusations that Mr Downes was pimping his daughter out for money have always been denied by the couple.

But they have been vilified for years over rumours they allowed men, some convicted paedophiles, into their home.

Incredibly, another of Mr Downes’ friends also later admitted to having ‘romantic feelings’ for Charlene and sexually abusing her by getting her to perform a sex act.

Mr Downes tells the podcast he punched this man after Charlene told him he had tried to touch her ‘inappropriately’.

Mr Willis confirmed this case was also presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, in 2007, but there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to charge him.

The first two episodes of Charlene: Somebody Knows Something are available right now wherever you get your podcasts – or get the whole series immediately at www.thecrimedesk.com.