BRIAN O'NEIL SENTENCED TO 21 YEARS IN PRISON IN DURHAM FOR DECADES OF SEXUAL ABUSE
A pensioner with a disturbing history of sexual abuse against girls over a period of more than thirty years has been sentenced to 21 years in prison and will not be eligible for release until he is in his 80s.Brian O'Neil, aged 66, who was known to have filmed many of his acts, was labeled a danger to underage girls and was subjected to an extended determinate sentence at Durham Crown Court.
This means he must serve a minimum of 14 years before being considered for parole, though he could remain incarcerated for the full 21 years.
Upon release, he will also face a five-year extended licence period and will stay on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard how O'Neil’s crimes have had a devastating impact on his victims, with some suffering self-harm and multiple suicide attempts.
O’Neil, formerly residing on Wharton Street, Coundon, pleaded guilty to rape along with 20 other charges predominantly involving sexual offences and voyeurism, in proceedings held in November and December of the previous year.
However, he disputed ten additional charges, which he was convicted of after a unanimous jury verdict following a three-day trial in late April.
Judge Ray Singh addressed O’Neil via video link from Durham Prison, stating: "There can be no criticism and no doubt you are a dangerous offender.
There is a significant risk to members of the public of the commission of further specified offences.
In your pre-sentence report, you did accept the majority of your offending.
Your offending pattern, which has spanned over three decades, reflects a long-standing sexual interest in young children that needs to be addressed in future." Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Donna Hicks of Durham Police, who led the investigation, commented: "O'Neil carried out these horrendous crimes for more than three decades and had a massive detrimental impact on his victims, who have suffered significantly.
Putting his own sexual gratification first, he has destroyed the lives of not just his victims but also their families and continued to show a total lack of remorse throughout the investigation and trial.
All the victims have shown enormous courage in coming forward, and I hope this sentence means they can finally gain some closure and start to rebuild their lives."
