Four sentenced over abuse of young girls
THREE men convicted of historical sexual abuse have been jailed for a total of 30 years and six months. Another man has received a suspended sentence.
Two of the men faced indecency charges relating to two young girls. The other defendants each faced charges relating to one girl.
Three of the four denied wrongdoing but were convicted after a trial. A fourth admitted his guilt.
Bristol Crown Court heard the girls were subjected to intimate assaults in a location near Bristol, from when one was aged as young as seven. The court was told they were groomed and manipulated by offenders years older than them.
Tim Dale, 42, of Eleanor Close, Twerton, was found guilty of two indecent assaults on one girl. The court heard he was fit to stand trial but was intellectually impaired.
Grant McGill, 41, of Mill Road, Radstock, was found guilty of 35 charges on one girl. These comprised 26 indecent assaults and nine indecency with a child charges.
Brian Parker, 48, of Benjamin Road, Wrexham, was found guilty of eight charges. These comprised an indecent assault of one girl and seven indecency charges relating to the other. He admitted downloading 38 indecent images of children from the internet.
Derek McBride, 62, of River Street, Bath, pleaded guilty to four indecent assaults and one charge of gross indecency. The charges related to both girls.
Judge Mark Horton sentenced the men thus: McGill, 16 years, eight weeks; Parker, 12 years (nine years’ jail with three years’ extended licence); McBride, two years, six months; Dale, two years, suspended for two years.
The judge said: “It became obvious these girls were confusing control and abuse for affection and care.”
He commended Avon and Somerset Police’s Det Sgt Neil Wood for his investigation of the case.
Leanne Woodman, prosecuting, said the abuse involved intimate touching of both girls’ private parts. The complainants were also encouraged into intimately touching the defendants, she said.
Edward Hetherington, defending Dale, said that at the time his client was a “peculiar, creepy” young man who, with the passage of time, had expressed appropriate remorse. Mr Hetherington said Dale would be vulnerable if sent to jail and would not cope.
Mary Cowe, defending McGill, conceded her client had taken advantage of one of the girls. She said he had known what he was doing was wrong.
James Coutts, defending Parker, said his client had led a “sad, lonely existence”. He said it was accepted Parker did have an interest in young children.
Alun Williams, defending McBride, said: “His remorse is very clear to see, over and above any self-pity or self-flagellation.”
It became obvious these girls were confusing control and abuse for affection and care
Judge Mark Horton