BRUCE DAVISON OF BEDFORD FACES JUSTICE AFTER ABUSING YOUNG BOYS IN BEDFORD AND LUTON

In a case that has spanned decades and involved multiple victims, Bruce Davison, an 80-year-old man from Bedford, has been brought to justice for his disturbing history of sexual abuse. The allegations against Davison, who resides in Bedford's Bedfordshire area, first came to light when a second victim recognized him during an episode of the television program '24 Hours in Police Custody.'

Davison, originally from Lidlington, was already serving a six-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in October 2016 to two counts of indecent assault committed in the 1970s. These assaults involved a young boy whom he targeted over several years, beginning when the victim was approximately seven years old. The court heard that Davison, who was then working in Luton, groomed the child by engaging him in conversations with sexual undertones, which eventually escalated into inappropriate touching and indecent acts.

The initial case was thoroughly examined during a six-day trial at Luton Crown Court. The court found Davison guilty of the charges related to the 1970s abuse, which had occurred over a span of years. However, the story did not end there. In June 2017, the fifth series of '24 Hours in Police Custody' aired an episode featuring Davison, which played a pivotal role in uncovering further abuse.

It was during this broadcast that a man in his 30s, who had been the victim of abuse in the 1990s, recognized Davison as his former employer and abuser. The victim, who was around 13 years old at the time, had been working a Saturday job in Luton when the abuse began. He disclosed that Davison's inappropriate conduct started with conversations that had sexual connotations and later progressed to physical acts of abuse. The victim, now an adult, was prompted by the program to contact the police, leading to Davison's additional charges.

The second victim's testimony revealed that the abuse had started in the mid-1990s and continued into his teenage years. His courage in coming forward was praised by police officials, with Detective Constable Sharon Ellis of Bedfordshire Police emphasizing the importance of reporting such cases regardless of how much time has passed. She stated, “I hope this sentence allows him to move forward with his life. The sentencing for non-recent cases of abuse such as this shows that it does not matter how long ago abuse took place, if you do come forward then you will be treated fairly, you will be believed, and justice can be done.”

Davison's sentencing is scheduled for August 8th, where he will face the consequences of his actions. His original sentence of six years, which he is currently serving concurrently, reflects the severity of his crimes and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring justice to victims of historical abuse.