GARETH MCGUINNESS FROM EAST BOWLING BRADFORD JAILED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

In August 2016, a man from East Bowling, Bradford, Gareth McGuinness, was sentenced to three years in prison for the heinous sexual abuse he committed against two children nearly four decades earlier. The court heard how McGuinness, then a teenager, inflicted a long-lasting and deeply traumatic ordeal on his young victims during the 1970s.

Both victims, now adults, bravely appeared in court to recount the profound and enduring impact of McGuinness’s actions. They described their lives as being overshadowed by the horrors they endured at the hands of McGuinness, who was their babysitter during their childhood. The emotional testimonies painted a stark picture of the pain and suffering that persisted into their adult lives.

Gareth McGuinness, of Burton Street, East Bowling, Bradford, pleaded guilty to multiple charges. He admitted to eight counts of indecently assaulting a boy aged nine to eleven, and seven counts of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 13. The offences took place when McGuinness was himself between the ages of 11 and 17. The court was told that the abuse of the boy began under the guise of play fighting but soon escalated into more severe acts, including forcing the boy to perform a sexual act on him. The abuse of the girl started when she was only four years old, with McGuinness removing her underwear and subjecting her to sexual assault until she was left crying.

During the hearing, one of the victims read aloud a personal statement, describing the emotional turmoil he has endured. He expressed feelings of anger, shame, and embarrassment, revealing that he thinks about what McGuinness did to him every day. Turning to face the defendant in the dock, he questioned, “I want to know why you turned into such a monster.” The victim shared that he had been suicidal, had sought counselling, and was on long-term anti-depressants. He also disclosed that he had become socially withdrawn, stating, “I no longer trust people in general because of this. My life has been filled with pain and horror.”

The female victim also spoke, recounting how she has carried the shame of her abuse throughout her life. She described feeling dirty and worthless, turning to drugs at a very young age, and engaging in self-harm by cutting herself with a razor blade. She expressed a desire for death, illustrating the deep scars left by McGuinness’s actions.

McGuinness’s legal representative, Tom Rushbrooke, argued that his client had led a blameless life since the offences. However, Judge Jonathan Rose condemned the crimes as “disgusting and revolting,” emphasizing that the abuse was both repeated and prolonged over a significant period. As part of his sentence, McGuinness was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with no fixed end date, and he is required to register as a sex offender indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the public from further harm.