DAVID BRYANT'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN ULVERSTON AND BEYOND: DECADES OF ABUSE FINALLY EXPOSED
| Red Rose Database
Ulverston Child Sexual Abuser
In a chilling case that spanned over three decades, David Bryant, a 65-year-old man from Ulverston, Cumbria, was finally brought to justice for a series of heinous crimes committed against young girls in the 1980s and 1990s. Bryant, who is described as a balding grandfather, believed he had managed to evade detection for all these years, but advances in DNA technology ultimately led to his arrest and conviction.
His crimes involved the abduction and sexual assault of four innocent girls, all under the age of six, in various locations including Hampshire, Tyneside, and Newcastle. The severity and pattern of his offenses shocked the community and left lasting scars on the victims and their families. Bryant’s actions were characterized by a disturbing pattern: he would approach his young victims near his place of work, lure them to secluded areas, and commit sexual assaults before abandoning them.
The case first came to light when cold-case detectives revisited the unsolved crimes, utilizing modern DNA analysis to establish a link to Bryant. This breakthrough came after years of investigation, during which Bryant had denied any involvement, refusing to comment when questioned about how his DNA was found at the scenes of the crimes. The evidence was irrefutable, and Bryant eventually admitted to kidnap and sexual assault charges.
One of the earliest known incidents occurred in the early 1980s, when Bryant abducted a five-year-old girl who was playing outside her Hampshire home. Her mother had briefly left the house to fetch drinks, only to return and find her daughter missing. Moments later, a couple reported seeing the girl with a man fleeing the scene. DNA evidence collected from the girl confirmed Bryant’s involvement, but the case remained unsolved for decades.
The following year, Bryant targeted a three-year-old girl in Southampton, luring her away with promises of puppies. He took her into nearby woods where he sexually assaulted her. The young girl, now an adult, recounted her trauma, saying, “When I hear an ice cream van playing its music I am left with chills all over my body. I am left remembering what happened to me at a very young age.”
In the mid-1990s, Bryant’s depravity continued in Newcastle. A five-year-old girl was playing outside her home on a May evening when she was separated from her family. Her frantic mother searched the area, and the girl was eventually found 36 miles away in Darlington, County Durham, after being missing for three hours. She had been sexually abused and was discovered by a local taxi driver, who saw her half-dressed and alone on the street.
Later that same year, another young girl from Newcastle’s west end was abducted while walking just 30 yards to a friend’s house. Bryant later admitted to taking her to a caravan in Cumbria and then dumping her in Darlington the following day. The girl was found smelling of baby lotion, having been washed in a bath to remove DNA evidence. Her mother described her as saying, “I cannot find my daddy. I have lost my daddy,” when she knocked on a neighbor’s door seeking help.
The judge presiding over the case, Judge James Goss, emphasized the devastating impact Bryant’s crimes had on his victims. He pointed out that all the victims were very young girls, some under five, and that Bryant’s offending pattern was both calculated and predatory. The judge noted Bryant’s apparent sense of grievance, believing he had “got away with it” for so long, which fueled his continued offending.
The investigation was rekindled when Hampshire Police launched a cold-case review, which, aided by DNA advancements, successfully identified Bryant as the perpetrator. Investigators also eliminated three of his male relatives from suspicion, strengthening the case against him. Bryant had also lived abroad in Saudi Arabia during the period between his crimes in Hampshire and Tyneside. His criminal history included three previous sex offenses against women between 1975 and 1984.
During police interviews, Bryant denied all allegations, refusing to comment on how his DNA was present at the crime scenes. His arrest and subsequent confession marked a significant breakthrough in a case that had haunted the victims’ families for decades. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Binks expressed his relief, stating, “For 30 years, Bryant left these victims and their families traumatised by his despicable actions and has shown absolutely no remorse. I can’t praise the families and victims enough for their support and strength through this long and traumatic ordeal. Our investigation led us to presenting evidence to Bryant, including a positive DNA match, which left him unable to deny his heinous crimes any longer. I hope it brings solace and reassurance to others that no unresolved case is closed.”
Gerry Sydenham, Head of the Crown Court Unit at CPS North East, highlighted the broader community impact, saying, “Bryant’s offending destroyed the trust of an entire community. He was uncooperative and showed no remorse until the very end. His crimes devastated communities, especially in the west end of Newcastle, where fear and mistrust took hold. His victims, now adults, continue to grapple with the memories of what happened, some managing to cope better than others, but all carrying the scars of his actions.”
David Bryant’s sentencing reflects the gravity of his crimes, and his long-overdue capture serves as a stark reminder of the importance of modern forensic techniques in bringing justice to victims of sexual violence.
His crimes involved the abduction and sexual assault of four innocent girls, all under the age of six, in various locations including Hampshire, Tyneside, and Newcastle. The severity and pattern of his offenses shocked the community and left lasting scars on the victims and their families. Bryant’s actions were characterized by a disturbing pattern: he would approach his young victims near his place of work, lure them to secluded areas, and commit sexual assaults before abandoning them.
The case first came to light when cold-case detectives revisited the unsolved crimes, utilizing modern DNA analysis to establish a link to Bryant. This breakthrough came after years of investigation, during which Bryant had denied any involvement, refusing to comment when questioned about how his DNA was found at the scenes of the crimes. The evidence was irrefutable, and Bryant eventually admitted to kidnap and sexual assault charges.
One of the earliest known incidents occurred in the early 1980s, when Bryant abducted a five-year-old girl who was playing outside her Hampshire home. Her mother had briefly left the house to fetch drinks, only to return and find her daughter missing. Moments later, a couple reported seeing the girl with a man fleeing the scene. DNA evidence collected from the girl confirmed Bryant’s involvement, but the case remained unsolved for decades.
The following year, Bryant targeted a three-year-old girl in Southampton, luring her away with promises of puppies. He took her into nearby woods where he sexually assaulted her. The young girl, now an adult, recounted her trauma, saying, “When I hear an ice cream van playing its music I am left with chills all over my body. I am left remembering what happened to me at a very young age.”
In the mid-1990s, Bryant’s depravity continued in Newcastle. A five-year-old girl was playing outside her home on a May evening when she was separated from her family. Her frantic mother searched the area, and the girl was eventually found 36 miles away in Darlington, County Durham, after being missing for three hours. She had been sexually abused and was discovered by a local taxi driver, who saw her half-dressed and alone on the street.
Later that same year, another young girl from Newcastle’s west end was abducted while walking just 30 yards to a friend’s house. Bryant later admitted to taking her to a caravan in Cumbria and then dumping her in Darlington the following day. The girl was found smelling of baby lotion, having been washed in a bath to remove DNA evidence. Her mother described her as saying, “I cannot find my daddy. I have lost my daddy,” when she knocked on a neighbor’s door seeking help.
The judge presiding over the case, Judge James Goss, emphasized the devastating impact Bryant’s crimes had on his victims. He pointed out that all the victims were very young girls, some under five, and that Bryant’s offending pattern was both calculated and predatory. The judge noted Bryant’s apparent sense of grievance, believing he had “got away with it” for so long, which fueled his continued offending.
The investigation was rekindled when Hampshire Police launched a cold-case review, which, aided by DNA advancements, successfully identified Bryant as the perpetrator. Investigators also eliminated three of his male relatives from suspicion, strengthening the case against him. Bryant had also lived abroad in Saudi Arabia during the period between his crimes in Hampshire and Tyneside. His criminal history included three previous sex offenses against women between 1975 and 1984.
During police interviews, Bryant denied all allegations, refusing to comment on how his DNA was present at the crime scenes. His arrest and subsequent confession marked a significant breakthrough in a case that had haunted the victims’ families for decades. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Binks expressed his relief, stating, “For 30 years, Bryant left these victims and their families traumatised by his despicable actions and has shown absolutely no remorse. I can’t praise the families and victims enough for their support and strength through this long and traumatic ordeal. Our investigation led us to presenting evidence to Bryant, including a positive DNA match, which left him unable to deny his heinous crimes any longer. I hope it brings solace and reassurance to others that no unresolved case is closed.”
Gerry Sydenham, Head of the Crown Court Unit at CPS North East, highlighted the broader community impact, saying, “Bryant’s offending destroyed the trust of an entire community. He was uncooperative and showed no remorse until the very end. His crimes devastated communities, especially in the west end of Newcastle, where fear and mistrust took hold. His victims, now adults, continue to grapple with the memories of what happened, some managing to cope better than others, but all carrying the scars of his actions.”
David Bryant’s sentencing reflects the gravity of his crimes, and his long-overdue capture serves as a stark reminder of the importance of modern forensic techniques in bringing justice to victims of sexual violence.