ST HELENS OFFENDERS DAVID BRADBURY AND WILLIAM GAMBLE SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD RAPE AND NEGLECT
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of St Helens, two men, David Bradbury and William Gamble, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being found guilty of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a young boy.The case, which unraveled in Liverpool Crown Court, revealed a pattern of grooming, neglect, and exploitation that spanned over two years, beginning when the victim was just six years old.
According to court proceedings, police investigations uncovered that Bradbury, aged 55, and Gamble, aged 65, acted in concert to carry out a series of sexual assaults on the boy.
Their criminal activities included filming and encouraging each other during the abuse, with Bradbury actively filming Gamble as he committed acts of sexual violence.
The police found disturbing images and videos at their residence in St Helens, which included indecent material involving the young victim, sweets, toys, and games that appeared to be used to groom and manipulate the child.
The case came to light after the two men uploaded an image of child abuse unrelated to the victim to Facebook, which led authorities to their home.
A police raid uncovered a cache of Category A images—those depicting the most severe forms of child abuse—along with other illicit material.
The investigation also revealed that Bradbury had, on multiple occasions, encouraged Gamble to continue with the abuse, commenting on the quality of recordings and urging him to persist.
Prior to their arrest, the court heard that the victim’s mother had been warned repeatedly by police and social services about the risks posed by Gamble and Bradbury.
Despite these warnings, she allowed her son to sleep in the same bed as Gamble and maintained contact with the pair, even exchanging messages that suggested she was aware of their interactions.
Court documents detailed how the mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her son, admitted to child neglect and acknowledged that she deliberately exposed her child to significant harm.
Police reports indicated that the mother confirmed her son was regularly at Gamble and Bradbury’s home in St Helens, despite being told not to allow unsupervised contact.
She claimed she wanted nothing to do with Gamble, yet her actions—such as sending messages asking for her son to be returned at a certain time and allowing unsupervised visits—contradicted her assertions.
Text messages revealed her asking Bradbury if he could sleep in bed with her son, offering him money for such access, and thanking him for sweets, further illustrating her complicity.
Tragically, the situation escalated when, during an initial child protection conference, the mother’s son was filmed being raped twice.
Despite being advised to prevent her son from contact with the offenders, she continued to allow interactions, including numerous video calls and messages.
She even sent photographs of her son in school uniform and lying on a rug to Gamble, indicating ongoing communication and possible complicity.
The court heard that the abuse was only fully uncovered after Gamble and Bradbury posted images of child abuse on Facebook, which led to their arrest in October 2021.
During the police raid, officers discovered not only the illicit images but also sweets, toys, and games used to groom the victim.
The young boy’s father expressed his distress, revealing that his son was too upset to speak about the abuse and that he now has conflicting feelings about his mother, who is under supervision for limited contact.
Judge Flewitt condemned the mother’s actions, stating that her deliberate exposure of her son to such risks was among the most serious forms of neglect.
She was sentenced to four years in prison, with a third of her sentence credited for early guilty pleas.
The judge emphasized that her behavior, despite her vulnerabilities, demonstrated a clear understanding of the risks involved.
Meanwhile, the two offenders, David Bradbury and William Gamble, faced justice for their extensive crimes.
Both men were convicted of multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and taking indecent videos.
Their crimes, which began in October 2018, involved grooming the boy with gifts and exploiting his trust over nearly two years.
The court described their actions as acting “as a team,” with Gamble physically abusing the child while Bradbury filmed and encouraged the acts.
Judge Rachel Smith sentenced Bradbury and Gamble to 16 years each in prison, with an additional year on license.
She labeled both men as “dangerous offenders,” highlighting the severity of their crimes and the profound harm inflicted on the young victim.
The case has left a lasting scar on the community of St Helens, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.
