BRIAN HORROBIN FROM LEYLAND JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES IN WIGAN AND PRESTON

In a series of disturbing revelations, Brian Horrobin, a man with a troubling history of sexual offences, has been sentenced to prison for crimes spanning several decades and involving multiple locations, including Leyland, Wigan, and Preston. His criminal activities, which date back to the 1970s, have come to light through a series of investigations and court proceedings that highlight both his past and the ongoing efforts to prevent further harm.

Horrobin, now 57, was initially convicted in 2013 for grooming and sexually abusing a boy and a girl he met through the Anglican church during the 1970s. These victims endured silence for over 40 years, but their stories resurfaced when one of the victims, a woman, attended a church service and unexpectedly saw Horrobin among the congregation. Recognizing him, she promptly reported him to the police, setting in motion a series of legal actions that would reveal his concealed past.

Following his release from prison, Horrobin, who was then residing in Leyland, took steps to reinvent himself. He changed his surname to Ashton and moved to a new town, where he sought to integrate into the Mormon community. Under his new identity, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and quickly rose through the ranks, being ordained as an Aaronic priest. His certificates of ordination, proudly displayed on the wall of his flat in Wigan, Greater Manchester, served as a testament to his new religious role.

In May 2015, Horrobin achieved the status of Melchizedek priesthood, a position of significant authority within the Mormon church, reserved for men who meet strict standards of conduct and participation. However, what he did not disclose to church authorities was his prior conviction for indecent assault on minors, nor did he reveal the restrictions imposed on him by a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). This order explicitly prohibited him from seeking paid or voluntary work that could involve contact with children.

Police officers conducting a routine monitoring visit to his flat found that Horrobin had removed his certificates from the wall, an act he claimed was merely for dusting. Nevertheless, subsequent investigations uncovered that his actions were an attempt to conceal his involvement with the church and his criminal past. When arrested, Horrobin admitted to removing the certificates but later pleaded guilty to breaching his SOPO.

During the sentencing at Preston Crown Court, Judge Heather Lloyd emphasized the gravity of Horrobin’s deception. She stated, “That SOPO was put in place to prevent you from any further opportunity to sexually abuse a child during any paid or voluntary work. When you decided to join the Mormon church and when you have risen in the congregation and priesthood, you deliberately failed to disclose your history and the restrictions on your employment. You must have known that your priestly duties were likely to entail unsupervised contact with children, and because of your priestly role, other parents were likely to trust you with their children.”

Judge Lloyd further condemned Horrobin’s deliberate concealment, noting, “It was a deliberate decision to deceive and hide the truth from the church just as it was a deliberate decision to hide your certificates from the police when they visited you. They weren’t taken down because you were dusting. They were taken down because if the police were aware of your position in the church, they would have arrested you.”

Although no unsupervised contact with children occurred during his religious activities, the judge highlighted the potential risk posed by Horrobin’s actions. “Once again, you have insinuated yourself into the church to gain access to children, whether that is in Sunday school or within the church,” she said.

Horrobin was sentenced to 11 months in prison and ordered to undergo supervision by the probation service for one year following his release. His criminal record and the restrictions imposed by his SOPO serve as stark reminders of the importance of vigilance and accountability in safeguarding children from predators with hidden pasts.