HULL WOMAN BETHANY HILL AND LONDON MAN ZABIEN BURNS SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE IN HULL
| Red Rose Database
Hull Child Abuser Rapist
A disturbing case involving the sexual abuse of a vulnerable child has culminated in the imprisonment of two individuals, Bethany Hill and Zabien Burns, following a series of heinous crimes committed in Hull and London. The court proceedings revealed the extent of the abuse, which was both prolonged and deeply disturbing, leaving a lasting impact on the victim and their family.
According to court records, Bethany Hill, aged 26, residing on Boulevard in Hull, and Zabien Burns, aged 34, of Arlington Road in London, engaged in a series of sexual assaults against a young girl. The abuse was not only physical but also documented through videos and images, some of which Hill herself filmed. The court heard that the abuse was carried out over an extended period, with the victims subjected to repeated acts of sexual violence and exploitation.
Burns faced multiple charges, including two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, three counts of making indecent images of children, and one charge of causing the sexual exploitation of a child. Despite denying these allegations initially, a jury at Hull Crown Court found him guilty of all charges. The judge sentenced Burns to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years and eight months. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was issued a lifelong sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future activities.
Hill, who pleaded guilty to eight charges, including two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, arranging the commission of a child sex offence, and causing the sexual exploitation of a child, received a sentence of eight years and four months. Like Burns, she will be on the sex offenders register for life and was also subjected to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. Her cooperation in admitting her guilt was noted during sentencing.
The case came to light after authorities seized phones belonging to Burns during an investigation into violence directed at Hill. During the forensic analysis, investigators uncovered hundreds of images and several videos depicting Burns and Hill repeatedly abusing the young girl. It was revealed that Hill was actively involved in filming the abuse, holding the camera as the acts took place. Prosecutor Kama Melly KC explained to the court that the abuse was documented through these recordings, which ultimately led to the discovery of the crimes.
The victim’s mother expressed her profound shock and heartbreak over the events. She stated, “I never thought something so sickening would happen to my family. Their actions have sickened me to the core. It made me feel completely numb. It was a big, horrible shock. I started to feel rage. I feel so much anger towards what monsters like these do to children. What has happened is constantly on my mind. I sometimes find it incredibly difficult to sleep. My brain always seems to be going at 1,000 miles an hour.”
Addressing Burns and Hill directly, she said, “There are no words to describe what you two are. What you did was vile and cruel.” After the sentencing, she added, “Hill and Burns are vile and cruel. They took my trust and broke it in the most monstrous way by doing something that no person should be capable of.”
Judge Richard Woolfall emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating that Hill was “fully engaging” in Burns’ abuse. He condemned Burns for his “serious and depraved offending,” and pointed out that Hill had accepted her responsibility, showing no reluctance in participating in the abuse.
Humberside Police’s Detective Constable Annabel Devall described the case as one of the most horrific she has encountered. She remarked, “This is one of the most horrific and despicable cases I have ever worked on where a child, one of the most vulnerable people in our society, has been subjected to abominable sexual abuse over a prolonged period. Hearing of the nature of these offences is something that will no doubt affect every member of society, and the actions of these individuals are appalling; not only affecting the victim, but also their family. This is something the family will never be able to forget, and despite the result here today, it is a trauma they are all going to have to live with for the rest of their lives. The offences in this case have been described as disgusting and heinous, and I can only agree, as the victim was purposefully targeted for being too young to understand what was happening to them.”
Humberside Police continue to urge anyone who may have been a victim of sexual offences or who knows someone affected to come forward and report it. The department emphasizes the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.
According to court records, Bethany Hill, aged 26, residing on Boulevard in Hull, and Zabien Burns, aged 34, of Arlington Road in London, engaged in a series of sexual assaults against a young girl. The abuse was not only physical but also documented through videos and images, some of which Hill herself filmed. The court heard that the abuse was carried out over an extended period, with the victims subjected to repeated acts of sexual violence and exploitation.
Burns faced multiple charges, including two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, three counts of making indecent images of children, and one charge of causing the sexual exploitation of a child. Despite denying these allegations initially, a jury at Hull Crown Court found him guilty of all charges. The judge sentenced Burns to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years and eight months. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was issued a lifelong sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future activities.
Hill, who pleaded guilty to eight charges, including two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, arranging the commission of a child sex offence, and causing the sexual exploitation of a child, received a sentence of eight years and four months. Like Burns, she will be on the sex offenders register for life and was also subjected to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. Her cooperation in admitting her guilt was noted during sentencing.
The case came to light after authorities seized phones belonging to Burns during an investigation into violence directed at Hill. During the forensic analysis, investigators uncovered hundreds of images and several videos depicting Burns and Hill repeatedly abusing the young girl. It was revealed that Hill was actively involved in filming the abuse, holding the camera as the acts took place. Prosecutor Kama Melly KC explained to the court that the abuse was documented through these recordings, which ultimately led to the discovery of the crimes.
The victim’s mother expressed her profound shock and heartbreak over the events. She stated, “I never thought something so sickening would happen to my family. Their actions have sickened me to the core. It made me feel completely numb. It was a big, horrible shock. I started to feel rage. I feel so much anger towards what monsters like these do to children. What has happened is constantly on my mind. I sometimes find it incredibly difficult to sleep. My brain always seems to be going at 1,000 miles an hour.”
Addressing Burns and Hill directly, she said, “There are no words to describe what you two are. What you did was vile and cruel.” After the sentencing, she added, “Hill and Burns are vile and cruel. They took my trust and broke it in the most monstrous way by doing something that no person should be capable of.”
Judge Richard Woolfall emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating that Hill was “fully engaging” in Burns’ abuse. He condemned Burns for his “serious and depraved offending,” and pointed out that Hill had accepted her responsibility, showing no reluctance in participating in the abuse.
Humberside Police’s Detective Constable Annabel Devall described the case as one of the most horrific she has encountered. She remarked, “This is one of the most horrific and despicable cases I have ever worked on where a child, one of the most vulnerable people in our society, has been subjected to abominable sexual abuse over a prolonged period. Hearing of the nature of these offences is something that will no doubt affect every member of society, and the actions of these individuals are appalling; not only affecting the victim, but also their family. This is something the family will never be able to forget, and despite the result here today, it is a trauma they are all going to have to live with for the rest of their lives. The offences in this case have been described as disgusting and heinous, and I can only agree, as the victim was purposefully targeted for being too young to understand what was happening to them.”
Humberside Police continue to urge anyone who may have been a victim of sexual offences or who knows someone affected to come forward and report it. The department emphasizes the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.