Paedophile royal butler jailed

A paedophile royal butler was jailed today for a minimum of six years after he admitted committing a string of sexual offences against young boys.

Described by police as a "brilliant groomer", Paul Kidd, 55, of Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, even took one of his victims for tea with the Queen Mother.

Kidd started grooming one of the boys when he was aged 12 as he met him as a patient on a hospital ward where he worked as a trainee nurse.

Another was 14 years old when he first spoke to Kidd on the CB radio airwave, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

The defendant was senior footman to the Queen Mother from 1979 to 1984 and previously worked as a royal butler to The Queen from 1977.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar told him: "You were someone who had influenced your victims to such an extent they were under your spell.

"They would do anything you asked them to do.

"I regard you as someone who is dangerous and presents a risk to all the young people you may come across."

He gave Kidd an indeterminate sentence and recommended that he remain in prison for at least six years for public protection until he could be considered for parole.