GARY HAGGAS OF THORNABY SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE IN TEESSIDE
| Red Rose Database
Thornaby Rapist
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community, Gary Haggas, a 67-year-old man from Thornaby, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes committed against his own daughters during the 1970s and 1980s. The former ice cream vendor, who showed no remorse during the proceedings, was convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault and rape, crimes that have left deep scars on his victims, now women in their forties.
Haggas’s victims, Janet Haggas and Jean Cookson, bravely chose to waive their right to anonymity to speak out about the abuse they endured. Their testimonies painted a disturbing picture of systematic exploitation carried out over many years, with Haggas abusing his position of trust as a father in various locations including their family homes in Hemlington and Middlesbrough, his vehicle, one of the ice cream vans he operated in the town, and even at their mother’s shop on Parliament Road.
Judge Peter Armstrong, presiding over the case at Teesside Crown Court, condemned Haggas’s actions, describing them as “a catalogue of the most appalling offences.” The judge emphasized the devastating impact on the victims’ lives, stating, “You’ve devastated their lives and robbed them effectively of a happy childhood. And you’ve now got to pay the price for that behaviour.”
The court heard that Haggas subjected his daughters to a pattern of sexual abuse that spanned over a decade. The most serious of his crimes involved raping both girls in each other’s presence, a particularly traumatic act that alone earned him an 18-year sentence. The court was shown moving statements from the women, who recounted the long-lasting effects of the abuse and the pain of reliving their experiences during the trial.
Judge Armstrong highlighted the gross breach of trust involved, noting that Haggas, as a father, was supposed to protect his children, not exploit them. The judge pointed out that the abuse began when the girls were very young and vulnerable, with the offences occurring repeatedly over the years. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Haggas continued to deny the allegations, showing no remorse, and even offering sweets to his daughters as a form of bribery, which the judge described as typical of paedophile behaviour.
Haggas’s criminal history was also discussed, revealing a previous conviction in 1996 for gross indecency with a boy, which resulted in a nine-month prison sentence. The judge interpreted this as indicative of a distorted and perverted interest in sexual offences against children, further justifying the lengthy sentence.
Throughout the trial, Haggas maintained his innocence, denying all 25 charges brought against him. The jury, however, found him guilty of seven counts of rape, seven of indecent assault, and one of indecency with a child. He was acquitted of two rape charges and all charges related to an additional complainant. The court heard detailed accounts of the abuse, which began when each girl was approximately seven years old and continued into their teenage years. Haggas was described as a controlling and manipulative abuser, escalating from simple acts of touching to repeated rapes.
One of the most disturbing incidents involved Haggas raping Janet on the day of the Queen’s Jubilee in 1977, when she was just 11 years old. He also raped Jean while she was off sick from school, once keeping her at home to assault her while the rest of the family was in Albert Park. During these assaults, he dismissed her protests, telling her to “do as she was told,” and at one point, gave her a £5 note in an attempt to silence her.
The allegations only came to light decades later, after a detective was informed of the abuse and formal complaints were made. Haggas initially denied the offences during police interviews, claiming that the women were lying after allegedly conspiring against him.
In mitigation, Haggas’s defence lawyer, Jamie Hill, requested leniency, emphasizing that Haggas had consistently denied the charges and that the offences had ceased 28 years prior. The lawyer argued that the risk of re-offending was diminished, but the judge refused to reduce the sentence, citing the severity of the crimes.
Haggas, who was seen standing with a walking stick in the courtroom, was noted to suffer from high blood pressure, hip problems, and was awaiting surgery. He receives disability benefits and was involved in voluntary vehicle and maintenance work for his church. Despite these factors, the court determined that he posed a future risk to children and imposed a sexual offences prevention order, banning him from unsupervised contact with minors under 18, and from working with children. He will also be registered as a sex offender indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.
Haggas’s victims, Janet Haggas and Jean Cookson, bravely chose to waive their right to anonymity to speak out about the abuse they endured. Their testimonies painted a disturbing picture of systematic exploitation carried out over many years, with Haggas abusing his position of trust as a father in various locations including their family homes in Hemlington and Middlesbrough, his vehicle, one of the ice cream vans he operated in the town, and even at their mother’s shop on Parliament Road.
Judge Peter Armstrong, presiding over the case at Teesside Crown Court, condemned Haggas’s actions, describing them as “a catalogue of the most appalling offences.” The judge emphasized the devastating impact on the victims’ lives, stating, “You’ve devastated their lives and robbed them effectively of a happy childhood. And you’ve now got to pay the price for that behaviour.”
The court heard that Haggas subjected his daughters to a pattern of sexual abuse that spanned over a decade. The most serious of his crimes involved raping both girls in each other’s presence, a particularly traumatic act that alone earned him an 18-year sentence. The court was shown moving statements from the women, who recounted the long-lasting effects of the abuse and the pain of reliving their experiences during the trial.
Judge Armstrong highlighted the gross breach of trust involved, noting that Haggas, as a father, was supposed to protect his children, not exploit them. The judge pointed out that the abuse began when the girls were very young and vulnerable, with the offences occurring repeatedly over the years. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Haggas continued to deny the allegations, showing no remorse, and even offering sweets to his daughters as a form of bribery, which the judge described as typical of paedophile behaviour.
Haggas’s criminal history was also discussed, revealing a previous conviction in 1996 for gross indecency with a boy, which resulted in a nine-month prison sentence. The judge interpreted this as indicative of a distorted and perverted interest in sexual offences against children, further justifying the lengthy sentence.
Throughout the trial, Haggas maintained his innocence, denying all 25 charges brought against him. The jury, however, found him guilty of seven counts of rape, seven of indecent assault, and one of indecency with a child. He was acquitted of two rape charges and all charges related to an additional complainant. The court heard detailed accounts of the abuse, which began when each girl was approximately seven years old and continued into their teenage years. Haggas was described as a controlling and manipulative abuser, escalating from simple acts of touching to repeated rapes.
One of the most disturbing incidents involved Haggas raping Janet on the day of the Queen’s Jubilee in 1977, when she was just 11 years old. He also raped Jean while she was off sick from school, once keeping her at home to assault her while the rest of the family was in Albert Park. During these assaults, he dismissed her protests, telling her to “do as she was told,” and at one point, gave her a £5 note in an attempt to silence her.
The allegations only came to light decades later, after a detective was informed of the abuse and formal complaints were made. Haggas initially denied the offences during police interviews, claiming that the women were lying after allegedly conspiring against him.
In mitigation, Haggas’s defence lawyer, Jamie Hill, requested leniency, emphasizing that Haggas had consistently denied the charges and that the offences had ceased 28 years prior. The lawyer argued that the risk of re-offending was diminished, but the judge refused to reduce the sentence, citing the severity of the crimes.
Haggas, who was seen standing with a walking stick in the courtroom, was noted to suffer from high blood pressure, hip problems, and was awaiting surgery. He receives disability benefits and was involved in voluntary vehicle and maintenance work for his church. Despite these factors, the court determined that he posed a future risk to children and imposed a sexual offences prevention order, banning him from unsupervised contact with minors under 18, and from working with children. He will also be registered as a sex offender indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.