DAVID TEBBS FROM HELMSHORE AND HUNCOAT SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE IN BURNLEY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Helmshore and Huncoat, David Tebbs, aged 57, has been found guilty of committing heinous sexual offenses against three young girls, with the youngest victim being only three years old. The crimes, which spanned over nearly three decades, have brought to light a pattern of predatory behavior that has left a lasting scar on the victims and their families.

According to court records, Tebbs, who was residing on Brooklands Avenue in Helmshore at the time of sentencing, was initially sentenced to 15 years in prison by Judge Beverley Lunt at Burnley Crown Court last November. The court heard harrowing evidence of his crimes, which included the rape of one girl and sexual assaults on two others. The judge described Tebbs’s actions as a gross breach of trust, especially considering the vulnerability of the young victims involved.

During the sentencing, Judge Lunt emphasized that Tebbs had attempted to threaten and blackmail the victims to prevent their disclosures, further aggravating his offenses. She stated, “You showed a gross breach of trust in respect of three young children.” Despite the severity of the crimes, Tebbs’s legal team challenged his sentence, leading to an appeal at London’s Court of Appeal.

Earlier this week, three senior judges—Mr Justice Sweeney, Lord Justice Treacy, and Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC—reviewed the case. They upheld Tebbs’s appeal, reducing his prison term by one year to a total of 14 years. The judges acknowledged that Tebbs’s full and immediate confession following his arrest played a significant role in their decision. Mr Justice Sweeney noted, “It seems to us that this is one of those cases where it is appropriate to take into account in mitigation—the confession.” He further explained that when this factor is considered, the original sentence appears excessive.

In his pre-sentence report, Tebbs expressed remorse, stating he “felt disgusted with himself” and was shocked that he had committed such offenses. The court also heard that Tebbs had a history of abusing young girls, with the youngest victim being just three years old. The abuse reportedly began when Tebbs had developed a relationship with the girl’s parents through a church in Rossendale. He molested the girl while she was staying overnight in a bedroom, with one of her siblings sleeping nearby. Although the girl confided in her mother afterward, no immediate action was taken against Tebbs at that time.

The abuse continued years later when Tebbs, then living in Huncoat and later in Helmshore, sexually assaulted the same girl again as she pretended to sleep. He only ceased his actions when she pretended to wake up. Over the years, Tebbs’s criminal record grew to include six counts of rape, twelve charges of sexual activity with a child, and two indecent assaults. His crimes extended to two other young girls, whom he also sexually abused.

Judge Beverley Lunt sentenced Tebbs to a further 15 years in prison and imposed a sexual offences prevention order, which bans him indefinitely from contacting anyone under 16. Additionally, Tebbs is required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and is prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults in the future. His guilty pleas, which spared the victims from reliving their trauma in court, were acknowledged by his defense attorney, James Heyworth, who highlighted Tebbs’s remorse in a letter to the court.

Overall, this case underscores the devastating impact of child sexual abuse and the importance of justice for the victims. The reduction in Tebbs’s sentence reflects the judicial system’s recognition of his cooperation and remorse, but the scars left on the victims remain profound and enduring.