BRADFORD MAN BRIAN LISTER SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN BRADFORD

In a case that has shocked the community of Bradford, Brian Lister, a 65-year-old man from Fagley, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of two children, with the abuse dating back to the 1970s.

Judge Robert Bartfield delivered the sentence after hearing detailed accounts of Lister’s actions, which spanned over a decade. The court was told that Lister, who was employed as a bus driver at the time, used his position and familiarity to groom and manipulate two young victims, both around 13 years old when the abuse began. The court heard that Lister befriended the girl by offering her sweets and money, establishing a relationship that would turn sinister.

Prosecutor Giles Bridge explained that the girl, who later described her experiences in a victim impact statement, would make a point of riding on Lister’s buses when she was just 11 years old. As their relationship progressed, Lister’s misconduct escalated from grooming to sexual assault. The court was informed that by the time she was 15, the girl and Lister had engaged in consensual sex, but the situation worsened when she told him to stop, and he subsequently raped her.

Despite the abuse, the relationship persisted into the 1980s, during which they reportedly had a child together. The victim’s statement revealed the profound psychological impact the abuse had on her, including mental health struggles and a deep distrust of men. The court was also told that Lister was involved in abusing a second child, a boy, during the same period. Both victims are protected by legal restrictions that prevent their identities from being disclosed.

Earlier in the proceedings, Lister pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of rape, three counts of indecent assault on a female, one count of indecent assault on a male, and two counts of indecency with a child. Further investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of videos depicting bestiality, leading to additional charges. Lister admitted to possessing obscene material, resulting in a total of six more counts.

During the hearing, Lister’s defense solicitor, Fiona Dix-Dyer, claimed that her client and the girl had fallen in love, and expressed remorse for his actions. She also noted that Lister’s wife of 35 years continues to support him. However, Judge Robert Bartfield emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating, “Whether she loved you or was attracted to you or not makes no difference – you were the adult, she was the child.”

As part of his sentence, Lister will be required to register as a sex offender, and he is prohibited from contacting the victims. Additionally, he is barred from working with or having unsupervised contact with children in the future. The case has left a lasting scar on the Bradford community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.