BRIAN THOMPSON JAILED FOR 30 YEARS IN LEYLAND AND LONGTON SEX ABUSE CASE

In a case that has shocked the communities of Leyland and Longton, Brian Thompson, a man once regarded as a respected member of his village, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for heinous sexual offenses committed decades ago. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing history of abuse that spanned from the 1970s, involving a young girl who has now come forward to seek justice after many years of silence.

Preston Crown Court heard detailed accounts of Thompson’s actions, which took place in the comfort of the girl’s home in Leyland. Prosecutor Rachael Woods described how Thompson would commit indecent assaults while other family members were present in the lounge. The young girl, at the time just a child, was made to sit on Thompson’s knee, where he would make her touch him. If anyone entered the room or showed signs of disturbance, Thompson would quickly cover himself with his jumper to conceal his actions.

As the girl grew older, the assaults continued, with her recounting a terrifying incident where she had her feet pressed against her bedroom door in an attempt to prevent him from entering. She was so frightened that she threatened to tell someone about what was happening. Thompson allegedly responded with a chilling remark, “nobody will believe you,” before forcing his way into her room and assaulting her again.

Thompson, aged 63 and residing in Longton, denied six counts of indecent assault, claiming the incidents involved him abusing the girl between the ages of four and twelve. Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of four counts in November, with a verdict of 10 to 2. The remaining two counts were ordered to be left on file, meaning they would not be pursued further but could be considered in sentencing.

Throughout the hearing, Thompson displayed signs of defiance, shaking his head and snorting as the victim’s impact statement was read aloud. He also held his hands up when the judge described one of the assaults, showing a lack of remorse. His defense lawyer, Ian Dunne, attempted to mitigate the sentence by highlighting Thompson’s employment history as a paint sprayer at Leyland Motors and later as a caretaker and handyman, emphasizing his retirement three years prior and his active involvement in his village community.

However, the judge, Edward Slinger, emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, “I accept it is harder for someone your age to cope with prison, but this lady has had to cope with upset and distress all those years.” The court acknowledged the long-lasting impact on the victim, who, now a mother herself, had shown remarkable courage in coming forward. The victim’s statement detailed how the abuse began with seemingly innocent tickling games but quickly escalated into more serious misconduct. She recalled an incident where Thompson chased her into her bedroom and pushed open the door despite her efforts to keep him out.

She revealed that she never confided in anyone at the time, fearing violence and feeling frightened by Thompson’s behavior. It was only after watching television programs about sexual abuse that she found the strength to report the matter to police in 2008. The victim explained that she had moved away from the area to escape the trauma but had finally decided to speak out after years of suffering in silence.

DC Catherine Thomas of the Southern Division public protection unit spoke on behalf of the victim, praising her bravery. She described how the abuse initially appeared as innocent play but soon turned into a pattern of exploitation. The victim, now an adult, expressed her relief that justice had been served, reaffirming that time does not diminish the importance of accountability for such serious offenses. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable individuals from predators, regardless of how much time has passed since the crimes occurred.