BRIAXTON MAN DAVID DRISCOLL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 13-YEAR-OLD BOY IN LONDON

On February 18, 1992, a disturbing case involving David Driscoll, a man residing in Brixton, came to light as he was sentenced to seven years in prison for heinous sexual offenses against a young boy. The case revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years, with Driscoll exploiting a 13-year-old boy in a series of sordid encounters.

According to court reports, the victim, a schoolboy, was lured into a series of obscene acts by Driscoll, who promised him money and hamburgers in exchange for his participation. The boy recounted that these encounters lasted over a period of three months, beginning after he met Driscoll at a weekend market where the latter operated a pet stall. The boy’s initial contact with Driscoll was seemingly innocent, but it quickly escalated into a series of sexual acts that left lasting scars.

Police officers on routine patrol happened upon the pair hiding in a rubbish-filled, abandoned garage shortly after they had engaged in sexual activity. The officers discovered the two in a compromising situation, and the boy subsequently disclosed the details of his involvement with Driscoll. He revealed that he had been coerced into these acts, which he described as sordid and exploitative, and that the abuse had been ongoing for three months.

Further investigation into Driscoll’s background uncovered a troubling history. Police searches of his residence revealed photo albums filled with images of young boys, raising concerns about his previous conduct. Court records also showed that Driscoll, a father of two, had a long-standing criminal record with 15 prior convictions dating back to 1958, all related to offenses against boys aged between nine and 15 years old.

During the trial, Judge Graham Laughland, QC, addressed Driscoll directly, condemning his extensive history of indecency with young boys. The judge acknowledged that the victim was never physically threatened but emphasized that he was effectively prostituted, manipulated into cooperating with Driscoll’s gratification through promises of money. The judge expressed concern over the psychological damage inflicted on the boy, who was on the cusp of puberty, and criticized Driscoll for setting a trap that made the boy an easy target.

Judge Laughland noted that Driscoll showed no remorse or mercy, forcing the young victim to relive the traumatic events in a public court. The judge described the boy’s face as one of a deeply tortured child, and it was noted that he turned away from the jury, avoiding their view of his distress.

The court heard that Driscoll, who worked as a courier during the week, operated his market stall in the Commercial Road area of Stepney on weekends. The victim, initially eager to help, was given money by Driscoll for assisting at the stall and was invited to meet him again the following weekend. On that occasion, Driscoll drove the boy to Finsbury Park, where they engaged in an unnatural sexual act in a secluded area near some bushes. Driscoll then paid the boy five pounds and drove him back to his home in Stepney.

After a three-week visit to the Midlands, the boy met Driscoll again at the stall, and this time they traveled to Hackney Marshes, where another sexual act took place in the bushes. As a reward, the boy was taken to McDonald's and given another five pounds. Driscoll warned him to keep the cash secret and arranged further meetings at Hackney Marshes the following weekends.

In addition to these incidents, the court was told that Driscoll sexually assaulted the boy in a public toilet on one occasion. The most serious incident occurred on August 24 of the previous year, when Driscoll took the boy to underground garages on Devonport Street in Stepney. There, they engaged in further sexual acts, and while smoking cigarettes, the boy noticed police officers nearby. The officers found the pair attempting to hide, with their clothes in disarray, and immediately intervened.

When questioned at the police station, Driscoll refused to answer any questions. He faced six charges of committing unnatural acts, specifically buggery, between June 1 and August 24 of the previous year. During the trial, three of these charges were dropped, but the jury convicted him on the remaining three. Driscoll denied some of the allegations, claiming he had only molested the boy at the garage and not during the earlier incidents, but the jury rejected his account.

It was also revealed that Driscoll had undergone psychiatric treatment following an earlier conviction and had married, fathering two children. Despite his criminal history, he showed no visible emotion as he was led away to serve his sentence. The court’s verdict underscored the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to young boys, especially given his long history of similar offenses.