GARETH TAYLOR'S LONG ROAD FROM ACCRINGTON AND BURNLEY: FAILED REHABILITATION BID AFTER SEX OFFENSE

In November 2019, Gareth Taylor, who has been living in Burnley since his release, remains a figure marked by a troubled past involving serious criminal behavior. His history of sexual offenses and subsequent legal battles have kept him under scrutiny for many years.

Back in March 2015, Taylor, then aged 21, faced a significant legal setback when he attempted to have his lengthy rehabilitation period shortened. His case drew attention due to the nature of his previous crimes and the complex legal proceedings that followed.

Gareth Taylor’s criminal record dates back to May 2007, when he was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court to 18 months in prison after admitting to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. During the assault, the young girl was visibly distressed, crying out for him to stop, which underscored the severity of the incident. At the time, Taylor was already subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which had been imposed due to earlier misconduct.

The judge, Christopher Cornwall, sentenced Taylor to an indefinite term for public protection, with a minimum of 18 months to serve. Although Taylor’s initial sentence was set to end in November 2008, the Home Office, following a recommendation from the Parole Board, decided that he should remain detained. This decision reflected ongoing concerns about his risk to the public and the need for continued rehabilitation.

Legal representatives for Taylor challenged this continued detention by filing a claim with the European Court of Human Rights. They argued that the unavailability of suitable sex offender treatment programs was preventing their client from being properly rehabilitated and potentially accelerating his release. The court was informed that during his time at HMP Preston, Taylor had been disciplined multiple times—seven times for failing to comply with prison rules and once for destroying property.

His incarceration then continued at HMP Bure, where he faced further setbacks. In a March 2011 hearing, authorities again denied his release, citing concerns over his risk level. However, in July of that year, Taylor successfully applied to transfer to HMP Wymott in Lancashire, citing compassionate grounds due to his father’s ill health.

By November 2011, Taylor’s legal team was contemplating judicial review proceedings, criticizing the prison system for failing to place him on an appropriate sex offenders treatment program. The court was told that Wymott prison officials indicated that delays were partly due to Taylor’s decision not to return to Bure, but assured him that he would be offered a suitable course, expected to start in August or September 2012.

Despite these assurances, a third Parole Board hearing before this period recommended that Taylor remain in custody, citing ongoing risks. Nevertheless, he completed a sex offenders treatment program in February 2013, which was seen as a step toward rehabilitation.

Throughout these proceedings, Taylor’s case highlighted concerns that his sentence no longer reflected the original punishment and that the prison system had failed to provide him with the necessary treatment to facilitate his release. Government lawyers argued that Taylor had chosen to stay at Wymott, fully aware of potential delays in accessing treatment, and that his continued detention was not arbitrary but a result of his own decisions.

In a ruling delivered by court president Nona Tsotsoria, the court dismissed Taylor’s appeal, stating that the delay from July 2011 to August 2012 was made with his consent and to accommodate his wishes. The court concluded that a genuine opportunity for rehabilitation had been provided and that there was no unreasonable delay in granting him access to the required courses. The court also noted that a subsequent Parole Board hearing in February 2014 did not recommend his release but allowed for his transfer to an open prison, marking another step in his ongoing legal and rehabilitative journey.