BRIAN WILSON OF NEWCASTLE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In September 2009, a disturbing case emerged from Newcastle involving Brian Wilson, a man with no prior criminal record, who was convicted of serious child sex offences. Wilson, aged 61 at the time, was found guilty of grooming and sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl over an extended period of approximately 18 months.

Initially, Wilson invited the young girl to his residence on Orpington Avenue, Walker, Newcastle, under the pretense of playing with his dog and engaging with his PlayStation console. What appeared to be innocent at first gradually took a sinister turn as Wilson began to introduce the girl to adult material by showing her pornographic films. This manipulation marked the beginning of a pattern of grooming that would escalate into sexual abuse.

The Newcastle Crown Court heard detailed accounts of Wilson’s actions, revealing that he exploited the trust of the young girl over a lengthy period. The court was informed that Wilson’s conduct involved not only the viewing of explicit material but also direct sexual assaults. The abuse inflicted upon the girl was described as grossly violating her innocence, with the court emphasizing the lasting impact such trauma would have on her life.

Judge Beatrice Bolton, presiding over the case, sentenced Wilson to 10 years in prison. In her remarks, she condemned his actions, stating, “You encouraged her to view pornography and introduced her to sexual behaviour. It’s so sad to read that little girl’s description of what happened. Over a period of time she was grossly violated and forced to do things she did not want to do. This will never leave her, you’ve marked her for the rest of her life.”

Wilson pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and two counts of inciting a child into sexual activity. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was banned from working with children in any capacity.

During the proceedings, Wilson’s defense attorney, Roger Moore, argued that his client had not previously shown any predilection towards children. Moore stated, “He has not shown one hint of a predilection towards youngsters. He has lost his family’s support and his life is in tatters. He is devastated and has no idea why this happened.”

Following the sentencing, Northumbria Police’s Detective Constable Carol Dowson expressed her views on the case, saying, “Wilson abused this young girl over a period of time, and he is now behind bars – where he belongs. We’ve done all we can to support the victim and her family throughout, and I hope this result can bring them some closure to what has been a very difficult time. Here in Newcastle and across the force, we have specially-trained teams of officers who investigate reports of this nature. We work together with the victims and their families to ensure the perpetrators are dealt with appropriately.”