BRISTOL PAEDOPHILE GEOFFREY TIFT DIES IN PRISON AFTER YEARS OF ABUSE

In March 2017, Geoffrey Tift, a notorious paedophile with a long history of abusing young girls across Britain, passed away in prison after contracting a severe chest infection. Tift, who had previously lived in Somerset and was known to frequent Bristol, was widely regarded as one of the most heinous offenders of his kind. His death marked the end of a dark chapter in his criminal career, which spanned over four decades of relentless sexual abuse.

Back in August 2010, Tift was sentenced to 18 years behind bars after a lengthy and harrowing trial at Bristol Crown Court. The court heard how he had systematically preyed on vulnerable children, beginning his pattern of abuse in the early 1970s. The judge, Neil Ford QC, described Tift’s actions as “nothing short of evil,” emphasizing the cruelty and calculated nature of his crimes against innocent victims.

At the time of sentencing, Tift was 62 years old and was described as wheelchair-bound. His criminal activities involved a disturbing catalogue of offenses, including rape, indecent assault, and other sexual acts committed against four young girls aged between five and 15. The abuse took place over a period of nearly 40 years, with Tift traveling across various parts of the country, including Kent, North Wales, Somerset, Devon, and finally Bristol, to carry out his heinous acts.

The trial revealed that Tift’s predatory behavior began in Kent, where he befriended a local family. He subjected their six-year-old daughter to repeated sexual abuse, including forcing her to touch him improperly on multiple occasions. The abuse continued for several years, culminating in a rape in an apple orchard when the girl was 14. Another victim, also from Kent, was sexually assaulted by Tift when she was just five years old, and the abuse persisted until she was 12. In the 1990s, he also assaulted a girl under 13 on several occasions.

Despite numerous complaints made to Thames Valley Police over the years, no charges were initially brought due to insufficient evidence or the victims withdrawing their statements. It was only in April of the previous year that Tift was finally apprehended, after a friend of one of his victims contacted the NSPCC and provided crucial information. This led to a re-investigation of his past crimes, uncovering a pattern of abuse spanning decades.

During the investigation, authorities re-interviewed several victims and uncovered a previously made police complaint. This complaint involved a teacher discovering a crumpled piece of paper written by one of the victims in a waste bin at a Bristol school, which detailed the abuse. Tift was arrested and initially denied all allegations, claiming that the girls were lying and that he was innocent. He also attempted to justify his actions by citing his various jobs, including work as a boat yard worker, taxi driver, house renovator, HGV driver, and AA man.

Prosecutor Christopher Quinlan outlined the extent of Tift’s crimes, stating, “Over a good part of the last few decades Geoffrey Tift has preyed on youngsters, sexually abusing them in a number of counties in England and North Wales. His abuse was in different forms: compelling them to touch him intimately; touching them intimately; and raping them. He was reported before, but not until now has he been prosecuted.”

Following the trial, the victims and their families expressed a mixture of relief and frustration. One victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, shared her experience, saying, “I was five years old and I didn’t understand what was going on. It was only when I told my mum I understood.” Her mother, aged 42, reflected on the impact of the abuse, revealing feelings of guilt for not protecting her daughter better and lamenting the lengthy wait for justice. She said, “I think 18 years is great but it’s a shame it’s not more. I’ve waited 15 years for him to get 18 years.”

During the trial, Tift’s wife, Lorna, aged 48, was convicted of a single non-sexual offense involving a child, while his son from a previous marriage, Karl Bailey, aged 26, was cleared of four charges related to sexual activity with a child. Tift’s health was also a concern; he was diagnosed with a tumor in his spine in late 2007 and underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite his health issues, the court imposed a lifelong ban on him working with children and mandated that he register as a sex offender for life.

Detective Sergeant Andy Howe from the Avon and Somerset police child abuse investigation team commented on the case, stating, “Geoffrey Tift targeted vulnerable females and committed very serious offences. I hope the verdict passed today offers those victims some measure of comfort, knowing that he has been brought to justice for the terrible acts he committed against them.”

His death in prison marked the conclusion of a long and tragic saga of abuse, leaving behind a trail of victims who endured unimaginable suffering at his hands.