July 2019 Pensioner jailed for molesting schoolgirl and making her life misery A pensioner has been jailed for five years for molesting a schoolgirl and making her life a misery. Former factory worker Gerald Barclay, aged 74, sexually abused the child for four years in the 1970s. He told his victim to keep his sordid behaviour as their little secret in the 70s – and she stayed quiet for 40 years. But the brave woman, suffering from depression and panic attacks, came forward to police two years ago. She said in a statement read to Plymouth Crown Court: “I can honestly say it has been such a huge relief to be able to tell my secret and long last.” A judge told Barclay he was able to raise a family and work for many years at Gleason Works in Estover. Judge Robert Linford said: “You were able pretty much to get on with your life while (victim’s name) has pretty much struggled with almost every aspect of hers. “In her victim personal statement, she sets out in clear terms how your offending changed her life and left her feeling depressed, anxious and damaged. “Having to relive her experiences during the trial has only compounded those effects.” Barclay, now a grandfather, has refused to accept his guilt despite the verdicts of the jury last month. He was found guilty by unanimous verdicts of three offences of indecent assault and two of gross indecency with a child between 1972 and 1976. One of the counts represents several incidents of abuse. Barclay, of Carradale Road, Eggbuckland, was cleared of four later charges of indecent assault after just over five hours of deliberations. Prosecuting barrister Jason Beal read at length from the victim’s statement which revealed the extent of her guilt and confusion. He said: “She said that after she was married it took years for her to fall pregnant. She thought it was because of his actions, she thought there was something wrong with her. “She said that she had been a normal, happy child.” Mr Beal added she had received counselling “many times” and was suffering from depression, anxiety and panic attacks. The defendant will have to sign the Sex Offender Register for life. June 2019 Plymouth factory worker molested schoolgirl over four years A pensioner faces prison for repeatedly molesting a schoolgirl over four years. Former factory worker Gerald Barclay sexually abused the child in the 70s, a jury has decided. The 74-year-old told his victim to keep his sordid behaviour as their little secret – and she stayed quiet for 40 years. But the brave woman came forward to police two years ago. She told the jury from the witness stand: “I have struggled with this all my life. I cannot deal with it any more.” Barclay, who worked at the Gleason Works in Estover, denied the abuse and went on trial over four days at Plymouth Crown Court. But he was found guilty by unanimous verdicts of three offences of indecent assault and two of gross indecency with a child between 1972 and 1976. One of the counts represents several incidents of abuse. Barclay, of Carradale Road, Eggbuckland, was cleared of four later charges of indecent assault after just over five hours of deliberations. Smartly-dressed Barclay showed little reaction as the forewoman announced the verdicts. Judge Robert Linford adjourned sentencing until July 11. He told Barclay: “Do not take the fact that I am adjourning sentencing and the fact that I am granting you bail serve as any indication of the sentence. “You have been convicted of very serious offences. You must expect a prison sentence.” Barclay told the youngster that it should be their “little secret” at the start of his abuse. The complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said that she felt she could not tell her family at the time. Referring to attitudes about sexual abuse, she added that the 70s were “different times”. The woman said in a video recorded police interview: “I just felt I needed to tell someone (in 2017). I needed to do this for me. It was a crime and it should not have happened. “I have kept his secret for all this time, I don’t want to do it any more.”