Four men sentenced for sex abuse of young girls
Four men including two from Bath have been sentenced for child sex offences.
Grant Mcgill, Brian Parker, Derek Mcbride and Tim Dale were sentenced for a total of 45 offences which took place between 1996 and 2003.
A five-week trial heard how their crimes were committed against two girls between the ages of seven and 15.
Avon and Somerset Police had begun their investigation in 2016 following a disclosure by one of the victims.
The enquiries led officers to conduct investigations throughout the UK. They reviewed a significant number of historical records held by social care, education establishments, digital media, previous investigations and complaints to other forces.
Mcbride, 62, of Lansdown, was jailed for two years and six months for four offences of indecency with a child and indecent assault. Having admitted the offences in interview he received a reduction in sentence for his early guilty plea.
Dale, 42, of Twerton, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment,
suspended for two years, for two offences of indecent assault.
Mcgill, 41, of Radstock, was jailed for 16 years for 35 offences of indecent assault and indecency with a child. He was handed a further eight week sentence after absconding during the trial.
Parker, 48, of Wrexham, was convicted of eight offences of indecent assault, indecency with a child and possession of indecent images of children. He was handed a nineyear jail term with an extended licence period of three years.
Lead investigating officer Detective Sergeant Neil Wood said: “These men acted independently of each other but all identified and took advantage of two young girls who were extremely vulnerable because of their age and personal circumstances. Their offending was predatory and abhorrent.
“The two victims have shown immense patience with what has
been a long and complex investigation and demonstrated significant bravery both in disclosing what had happened and giving evidence in court. These sentences reflect the seriousness of the offences they committed, but also the significant and long lasting impact that it has had on these survivors.”
Both victim impact statements from the women were read to the court. One said: “If I see men with children ... I feel certain those children are being hurt and I feel powerless to stop it.
“If I hear children crying from another house, my imagination goes through the roof.”
She thanked the jury for “hearing me and helping me begin this road to recovery”.
The second woman told the men: “What you have done will never be okay, it will never be fixed. This isn’t something that ‘sorry’ makes all better.
“Our lives are forever impacted by your actions and your choices toward us.
“I can only be thankful that you can’t hurt anyone now and I hope that this experience and outcome has taught you something valuable - that your actions have consequences and you have no control over us. We are now stronger than we have ever been.”
Judge Mark Horton at Bristol Crown Court said the men had all targeted young girls whom they knew to be vulnerable and unlikely to report the abuse or get support. He added that both women would be living with lifelong feelings of betrayal.
In sentencing, he found Parker to be a dangerous offender who was predatory, calculated and manipulative. He had not shown any remorse.
As he was found to pose a significant risk of physical, sexual and emotional harm to young people, Judge Horton directed that Parker should not be released from prison until assessed by a parole board as no longer being a risk.
If you have been affected by sexual abuse or know anyone who has, you can report it at: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/rapeand-sexual-assault.