A 94-year-old former foster carer from Crawley, West Sussex, has been charged with 21 sexual offences involving three young girls following a long-running investigation. Sussex Police confirmed that Stanley Taylor, of Theydon Close, was charged on 10 March 2026.
The charges relate to incidents alleged to have taken place over nearly four decades, between 1971 and 2009. During a 20-year portion of this period, from 1971 to 1991, Taylor worked as a foster carer and was responsible for around 20 children.
Officers originally launched their investigation in November 2019 after receiving a report about the historical allegations. Following the recent charges, a trial date has been set for 8 March 2027.
The case serves as a reminder for families to use official safeguarding checks and national protection resources when making childcare or fostering arrangements. The police are also pointing residents toward support organisations that help victims of historical abuse.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
