BRIDGWATER PAEDOPHILE ADRIAN DAY TO BE RELEASED SOON AS SENTENCE IS REDUCED
| Red Rose Database
Bridgwater Thornbury Child Sexual Abuser
In September 2013, Adrian Harold Day, a 67-year-old former scout leader from Bridgwater, was set to be released within days after the Court of Appeal reduced his prison sentence. Day was originally imprisoned in 2002 for a series of child sex offenses, including four counts of indecent assault, inciting a child to commit gross indecency, and making indecent images of a child. His initial sentence was three years, but after serving nearly a decade without further trouble, he struck up a friendship with a 14-year-old boy’s family, staying at their house on multiple occasions—violating the requirement to notify authorities of additional addresses. The boy’s mother discovered Day’s criminal history online, which shocked her. Day pleaded guilty at Taunton Crown Court and was sentenced to 14 months in May. However, last week, Mr. Justice Holroyde noted that the initial sentence was too harsh and reduced it to eight months, of which Day will serve only half before being released on licence.
Mr. Justice Holroyde explained that the seriousness of Day’s failure to comply with the Sexual Offences Act was due to its deliberate nature. Despite the past crimes, there was no evidence to suggest Day offended against the 14-year-old during this recent incident. His lawyers argued that mitigating factors, including his law-abiding life prior to the recent breach and the absence of any intent to pursue or harm children, justified a lighter sentence. The judge agreed, stating, “Having regard to both the aggravating and mitigating features, we accept the submission that the judge took too high a starting point and the sentence was manifestly excessive.” As Day has already served nearly half of his current sentence, he'll be eligible for release shortly.
This case follows an earlier incident in January 2003, when Day, who was then a youth club and Scout leader in Thornbury, was released after serving just 11 months of a three-year sentence for multiple sex offences against boys. He was barred from returning to his family home in Thornbury as part of his parole conditions. His prior conviction resulted from admitting to five indecent assaults, inciting a child to gross indecency, and taking indecent photographs, all committed in the late 1960s. The mother of one victim criticized the leniency of his sentence, which she described as having ruined her son’s life.
Many in Thornbury were outraged when police arrested Day in June 2000, revealing his roles in the youth community were marred by these crimes. The community knew him as a trusted youth leader at The Club, a prominent youth center. Despite his marriage and family, Day’s reputation was shattered after his offences came to light. The Prison Service declined to comment on his early release, providing only that they do not disclose details about individual prisoners.
Mr. Justice Holroyde explained that the seriousness of Day’s failure to comply with the Sexual Offences Act was due to its deliberate nature. Despite the past crimes, there was no evidence to suggest Day offended against the 14-year-old during this recent incident. His lawyers argued that mitigating factors, including his law-abiding life prior to the recent breach and the absence of any intent to pursue or harm children, justified a lighter sentence. The judge agreed, stating, “Having regard to both the aggravating and mitigating features, we accept the submission that the judge took too high a starting point and the sentence was manifestly excessive.” As Day has already served nearly half of his current sentence, he'll be eligible for release shortly.
This case follows an earlier incident in January 2003, when Day, who was then a youth club and Scout leader in Thornbury, was released after serving just 11 months of a three-year sentence for multiple sex offences against boys. He was barred from returning to his family home in Thornbury as part of his parole conditions. His prior conviction resulted from admitting to five indecent assaults, inciting a child to gross indecency, and taking indecent photographs, all committed in the late 1960s. The mother of one victim criticized the leniency of his sentence, which she described as having ruined her son’s life.
Many in Thornbury were outraged when police arrested Day in June 2000, revealing his roles in the youth community were marred by these crimes. The community knew him as a trusted youth leader at The Club, a prominent youth center. Despite his marriage and family, Day’s reputation was shattered after his offences came to light. The Prison Service declined to comment on his early release, providing only that they do not disclose details about individual prisoners.