BRIAN REES FROM EDGBASTON AND SANDWELL JAILED FOR ABUSE OF YOUNG SISTERS IN BIRMINGHAM

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Edgbaston and Sandwell, Brian Rees, a former teacher from Birmingham, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for the indecent assault of two young sisters. The offences, which took place over four decades ago, have only recently come to light, highlighting the enduring impact of childhood abuse and the importance of justice regardless of the passage of time.

Rees, who spent his entire teaching career at Barford School in Ladywood, was accused of grooming and abusing the sisters during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The court heard that he used gifts and other manipulative tactics to gain the trust of the girls, who were between the ages of eight and 13 at the time. The abuse occurred at his then residence on Gillott Road in Edgbaston, where he repeatedly assaulted the siblings in a pattern that left lasting scars.

The victims, who only discovered the extent of Rees’ misconduct earlier this year, were prompted to speak out after watching a television documentary about sexual abuse. An emotional conversation between the two sisters revealed the horrifying truth that each had been victimized by Rees without knowing the other was suffering at his hands. This revelation led them to report the incidents to West Midlands Police, resulting in Rees’s arrest from his home in Sandwell on September 19.

During police interviews, Rees admitted to the indecent assaults on both girls. He expressed a sense of inevitability about his past catching up with him, acknowledging his guilt. Rees pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault—two on each sister—and was subsequently sentenced in Birmingham Crown Court on November 1 to serve a total of 18 months behind bars.

Detective Sergeant Jayne Killoch, from the West Midlands Police’s Public Protection Unit, commented on the case, emphasizing that age does not diminish the importance of seeking justice. She stated, “These offences occurred decades ago but, as several high-profile cases have proved recently, it’s never too late to contact police. We can secure compelling evidence even many years down the line and will always push to bring offenders to justice.”

The officer also highlighted the emotional toll on the victims, noting that both women had written powerful victim impact statements. They expressed relief that Rees had finally admitted his wrongdoings, reaffirming that they were blameless and that justice had been served. Rees has also suggested that he assaulted two other girls at the school, who were friends of the sisters. Authorities are actively working to identify and locate these potential additional victims.

In her statement, one of the sisters, now aged 51 and residing in Birmingham, described her childhood as “mental torture,” recounting her dread at the start of each school term, hoping Rees would be replaced. She said, “He ruined my childhood and I woke every day not wanting to go to school. There was no escape from Rees at home because he was friendly with my father and would often visit.” Her older sister, aged 55 and living in Walsall, shared her own feelings of relief upon Rees’s arrest. She revealed that she avoided passing near his house or the school for years, walking long routes to avoid memories of her trauma. “I used to walk the long way home from school so as not to pass his house… sometimes it meant arriving home late and I would be told off, but felt I couldn’t tell them why,” she explained.

Both sisters expressed the profound and lasting effects of Rees’s abuse, with the older sister stating, “I have lived a lifetime of torture and Rees must acknowledge this.”

As part of his sentence, Rees was ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for ten years and is barred from working with children in the future. The case serves as a stark reminder that justice can be pursued regardless of how many years have passed since the crimes occurred, and it underscores the importance of speaking out against abuse to protect others and bring perpetrators to account.