GEORGE SULLY FROM FOUR OAKS SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT WATERCRESS LINE
| Red Rose Database
Four Oaks Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing incident that took place at Hampshire's Watercress Line, George Sully, a 73-year-old man known as Ray and a former volunteer, was convicted of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl during a themed event involving Thomas the Tank Engine. The assault occurred last August, when Sully, who was playing the role of a 1950s engine driver, put his hand up the girl’s skirt and touched her bottom. The young girl was accompanied by her mother, father, and younger sister at the time of the incident. She was part of a family outing to the Watercress Line, a popular heritage railway, when the assault took place.
According to court reports, the girl was with her family on a ride operated by Sully, who was supervising the children during the event. The assault was witnessed by another woman and the girl’s mother, who immediately recognized the inappropriate behavior. Despite denying the charge of sexual assault and claiming he could not remember touching the girl, Sully was found guilty by a jury after a trial.
It was revealed during the proceedings that Sully had a criminal history, with convictions for similar offenses dating back nearly four decades. Shockingly, he was permitted to volunteer at the Watercress Line without undergoing a Criminal Records Bureau check, a lapse that allowed him access to children despite his past.
The court, presided over by Recorder of Winchester Michael Brodrick, sentenced Sully to an indeterminate sentence for public protection. The judge stated that Sully would serve a minimum of nine months before being eligible for consideration of release. Additionally, Sully was ordered to register as a sex offender and was disqualified from working with children for life. A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also imposed for five years, prohibiting him from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16 and from engaging in paid, unpaid, or voluntary work involving children under that age. Breaching this order could result in a maximum five-year prison sentence.
The court heard that the young girl has been suffering from nightmares and 'night terrors' since the assault, often sleeping with her parents for comfort. It was also disclosed that Sully failed to inform the Watercress Line’s managing company, Mid-Hants Railway, about his criminal past, and no background check was conducted on him prior to his volunteering role. This case highlights significant concerns about safeguarding procedures and the importance of thorough background checks for individuals working with children in volunteer capacities.
According to court reports, the girl was with her family on a ride operated by Sully, who was supervising the children during the event. The assault was witnessed by another woman and the girl’s mother, who immediately recognized the inappropriate behavior. Despite denying the charge of sexual assault and claiming he could not remember touching the girl, Sully was found guilty by a jury after a trial.
It was revealed during the proceedings that Sully had a criminal history, with convictions for similar offenses dating back nearly four decades. Shockingly, he was permitted to volunteer at the Watercress Line without undergoing a Criminal Records Bureau check, a lapse that allowed him access to children despite his past.
The court, presided over by Recorder of Winchester Michael Brodrick, sentenced Sully to an indeterminate sentence for public protection. The judge stated that Sully would serve a minimum of nine months before being eligible for consideration of release. Additionally, Sully was ordered to register as a sex offender and was disqualified from working with children for life. A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also imposed for five years, prohibiting him from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16 and from engaging in paid, unpaid, or voluntary work involving children under that age. Breaching this order could result in a maximum five-year prison sentence.
The court heard that the young girl has been suffering from nightmares and 'night terrors' since the assault, often sleeping with her parents for comfort. It was also disclosed that Sully failed to inform the Watercress Line’s managing company, Mid-Hants Railway, about his criminal past, and no background check was conducted on him prior to his volunteering role. This case highlights significant concerns about safeguarding procedures and the importance of thorough background checks for individuals working with children in volunteer capacities.