GEORGE SULLY AND SHOCKING CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT ON THE WATERCRESS LINE IN HAMPSHIRE
In a disturbing case that has sent ripples through the community, George Sully, a 73-year-old man from Four Marks, Hampshire, has been found guilty of committing a sexual assault involving a young girl during a family visit to a heritage railway.Sully, also known by the nickname Ray Sully, was involved in a well-publicized incident during a Thomas The Tank Engine-themed event on the Watercress Line in Hampshire, which is renowned for its historical steam train rides.
The incident occurred in August of the previous year, when a family from Surrey was visiting the railway.
The young girl, aged six, was accompanied by her mother, father, and younger sister.
As part of the event, the girl was allowed to go aboard James, the red engine, under the supervision of Sully, who was volunteering at the event and had taken on the role of a 1950s steam engine driver.
During this supervised activity, Sully crossed a line of appropriate behavior, putting his hand up the child's skirt and touching her bottom while she was near the train.
The assault took place in plain sight, and the young girl’s mother, as well as another woman who was also present, witnessed Sully's inappropriate actions.
Despite the clear evidence, Sully, who had a legal history, denied the allegations, claiming during the court proceedings that he could not recall touching the girl.
His defense was based on a lack of memory regarding the incident.
The trial, which extended over four days at Winchester Crown Court, uncovered alarming details about Sully's background.
It was revealed that he had not undergone any Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks prior to volunteering on the heritage railway.
This was especially troubling given his past convictions for similar offenses dating back several decades.
Records showed that as early as 1968, Sully had assaulted an 11-year-old girl in Woolworths in Guildford, Surrey, for which he pleaded guilty to indecent assault and received a fine of £10.
Later, in 1974, he followed two seven-year-old girls in Woking, Surrey, and repeatedly put his hand up their skirts, squeezing their bottoms.
He once again pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and was sentenced to 12 months' probation.
During his own testimony, Sully claimed he had come into contact with hundreds of children during his volunteer work on the Thomas attraction, which ran twice a year for eight days at a time.
He started volunteering at the railway in 2002 and participated in the Thomas-themed days from 2003 without filling out any background forms or disclosing his previous criminal history to the charity overseeing the event.
Such omissions drew criticism from both police authorities and the parents of the young girl involved.
The jury, after deliberating for nine hours, returned a majority verdict of guilty.
The trial judge, Recorder of Winchester Michael Brodrick, acknowledged the potential risk posed by Sully and indicated that he could face imprisonment under public protection legislation—implying an indefinite sentence if he continues to be considered a threat to children.
Moreover, Sully was ordered to register as a sex offender and was disqualified from working with children in the future.
While granted bail, Sully's case will be revisited for sentencing on June 18.
In sentencing remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “You are in a very serious position indeed,” underscoring the potential danger and the breach of trust involved in this case.
