GRAHAM BROOK'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN HULL: CHILD RAPIST DIES OF CANCER IN HMP HULL
In November 2016, the tragic death of Graham Brook, a convicted child rapist, was confirmed while he was incarcerated at HMP Hull.Brook, aged 65 at the time, succumbed to cancer on February 29, having been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in October 2015.
His death marked the end of a long and disturbing criminal history that spanned decades.
Brook’s criminal record is marked by heinous offenses, including the abuse of four young boys and girls during his time as a babysitter.
His crimes, which took place over a period of more than ten years, were so severe that he was sentenced to ten years in prison in 2011 after pleading guilty to a total of 55 charges of rape and indecent assault.
The victims, some as young as three years old, suffered lifelong trauma from his actions.
The court heard that his offenses were committed more than 20 years prior to his conviction, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior that had long-lasting effects on his victims.
Graham Brook, who was formerly residing on Feldbridge Close in east Hull, was also known to have a prior conviction dating back to 1966 for gross indecency involving a four-year-old girl.
This previous conviction underscored a disturbing history of sexual misconduct from an early age.
During the proceedings at Hull Coroners Court, it was revealed that Brook’s death was due to natural causes, specifically from bowel cancer.
However, the coroner, Professor Paul Marks, concurred with the findings of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman that Brook’s passing might have been preventable had he accepted the medical screenings offered to him.
These screenings, including colonoscopies, were recommended because of his age and the known risks associated with bowel cancer.
Nigel Newcomen, speaking on behalf of the ombudsman, emphasized that if Brook had agreed to these medical examinations, the cancer might have been diagnosed earlier, potentially allowing for more effective treatment.
Despite multiple opportunities to undergo screening while incarcerated, Brook refused these medical interventions.
When his cancer was finally diagnosed, it was at an advanced, terminal stage, leaving him with only months to live.
Consequently, he was transferred to the prison’s palliative care unit, where he spent his final days.
Professor Marks stated, “If Mr Brook had availed himself of the screening programme, which I believe is a screening programme for those over 60, his death may have been prevented.” Reflecting on his criminal past, the court described Brook’s offenses as “wicked and cruel,” emphasizing the profound impact on his young victims.
The court also highlighted the emotional scars left behind, with victims recounting the lifelong trauma inflicted upon them.
One victim, who was just five years old at the time of the assault, shared that the abuse had haunted her throughout her life, causing her to suffer flashbacks and fear of male authority figures.
Another victim, assaulted at the age of three, expressed her inability to forget the smell of her abuser, stating that it would haunt her forever and that her childhood memories had been irreparably damaged.
Brook was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life, and he was permanently barred from working with children or being unsupervised around them.
His legal representative, Steven Garth, expressed remorse on his behalf, stating, “He would like to express his sincere regret and remorse for what he did.
He knows the pain and suffering he has put his victims through and he knows that will never go away.
He apologizes for what he did.” In summary, Graham Brook’s life was marred by a series of heinous crimes that left indelible scars on his victims.
His death in Hull prison marked the end of a dark chapter, but the memories of his actions continue to affect those he harmed, serving as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child sexual abuse.
