BARRIE MABLY SENTENCED IN BRIDGEND FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Bridgend, Barrie Mably, aged 31, was sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offences involving young girls. The crimes spanned over a period of years, with the earliest incident occurring in the 1990s and the most recent just a decade ago, highlighting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

Throughout the trial, the victims, all of whom were minors at the time, bravely provided evidence against Mably, despite the trauma associated with recounting their experiences. The court heard that one of the victims was only eight years old when Mably attempted to commit rape. The jury found Mably guilty of four counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape, reflecting the severity of his actions.

Judge William Gaskell presided over the case and delivered a stern judgment. He detailed the nature of the offences, noting that two of the incidents occurred on the same day, involving two young girls aged six and ten who had visited Mably’s residence. The judge explained that Mably lured the girls into a bathroom under the guise of a game, only to indecently assault them by pulling down his trousers and boxer shorts. The judge emphasized the breach of trust involved, stating, “You got them to go into the bathroom under the pretence of taking part in a game. You pulled down your trousers and your boxer shorts and indecently assaulted them. You were not babysitting them but you were the adult present and it was a gross breach of trust.”

Further offences included an attempt to have sex with an eight-year-old girl, during which Mably undressed and instructed her to remain silent. Although the sexual act was not completed, the jury found that he had attempted to do so. Another victim, approximately seven years old at the time, was subjected to inappropriate touching when Mably undid her clothing and placed his hand inside her underwear. The judge highlighted that at the time, the girl was in a place where she should have felt safe, and condemned Mably’s lack of remorse, noting that he maintained his denials despite compelling evidence against him.

As part of his sentence, Mably was ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. Additionally, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was imposed, restricting him from contacting any person under 16 without explicit parental or guardian consent. The order also requires that any such consent be given with full knowledge of his convictions and sentence. Judge Gaskell stressed the importance of these measures, stating, “It is necessary to protect young girls from you.”

It was also revealed that Mably has since become a father, adding a further layer of concern regarding his potential impact on other children. Due to the timing of the offences, he was sentenced under previous legislation, which means he will not be eligible for automatic release on licence halfway through his sentence. Instead, he must wait until reaching the halfway point to apply for parole through the Parole Board, a process that will be scrutinized given the gravity of his crimes.