GORDON REDMOND'S HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN BRIGHTON AND SWANSEA LEADS TO 19-YEAR SENTENCE

In a case that has shocked the communities of Brighton and Swansea, Gordon Brian Redmond, a 72-year-old man, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for a long history of child abuse spanning over four decades. The conviction follows a detailed trial at Lewes Crown Court, where Redmond was found guilty of multiple heinous offences committed during his time living in Brighton from 1967 to 1984, and later in Swansea.

Redmond’s criminal record includes 18 counts of indecent assault against children, with six charges of rape and one count of actual bodily harm. The offences were committed over a period of more than 43 years, with the earliest incidents dating back to the late 1960s. The court heard that 17 of these charges were sample counts, representing ongoing abusive behavior rather than isolated incidents. Redmond had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent assault, but the trial revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory conduct.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on one of the rape charges, and Judge Michael Lawson QC ordered that particular charge to lie on file. During sentencing, Judge Lawson expressed that no amount of imprisonment could truly compensate for the harm inflicted upon the victims. He stated, “There is no mathematical calculation I can do that can match the harm that you have done with a certain number of years in custody. Nor can I undo the damage that has been done or bring peace and comfort to those who have suffered as a result of your selfish behaviour.”

Judge Lawson also commented on the outdated nature of the sentencing guidelines applicable at the time of the offences, which he implied did not adequately reflect the severity of Redmond’s crimes. The court heard that Redmond, who became a devout Jehovah’s Witness in the 1970s, moved to a farm in Pontyberem in 1984, after the abuse had begun.

The most recent offence, an act of actual bodily harm, occurred in November 2006. Throughout the trial, the courage of the victims was acknowledged by the prosecution, with particular praise given to Redmond’s first victim, who displayed remarkable resilience and generosity of spirit despite the trauma inflicted upon her.

Prior to sentencing, Redmond’s defense lawyer, Bernard Richmond QC, described his client as a man already suffering severe consequences for his actions. He painted a picture of a once proud and arrogant individual who had fallen from grace, now facing a bleak future with little money and a tarnished reputation as a “filthy paedophile.” Richmond also highlighted that Redmond had been shunned by his religious community, with his wife Christine choosing her faith over her marriage.

During the proceedings, Judge Lawson addressed the public gallery, which included some of Redmond’s victims and their families, as well as members of Redmond’s own family. He urged restraint and dignity, acknowledging the emotional weight of the case. Redmond remained impassive as the verdicts were read, showing no visible reaction to the sentences handed down.

Sussex Police’s investigation into Redmond began in January 2007 after one of his victims came forward. The authorities quickly identified four potential victims, and further inquiries uncovered a fifth. The case has brought to light a disturbing history of abuse that spanned decades and affected multiple lives, leaving a lasting scar on the communities of Brighton and Swansea.