GRAHAM ROSIER FROM DERBY AND NEWMARKET JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGE GIRL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the racing community, Graham Rosier, a stable worker with ties to Derby, Newmarket, and previously based in Hatton, has been sentenced to six years in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage girl. The incident took place during his time working at the renowned George Baker Racing Yard in Moreton Morrell, where he was employed at the time of the offence, which occurred around 2007 or 2008.

Rosier, aged 53 at the time of sentencing, faced charges of sexual activity with a child. He had initially denied the allegations, but after a trial at Warwick Crown Court in December, a jury unanimously found him guilty. This verdict followed a previous jury's inability to reach a decision, leading to a retrial that confirmed his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Following the conviction, Recorder Steven Evans ordered Rosier to register as a sex offender for life. Additionally, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that restricts any contact with girls under the age of 16 indefinitely. The court also considered the impact of his actions on the victim, who was only 13 or 14 years old at the time.

During the trial, prosecutor Glyn Samuel detailed the disturbing events. Rosier, then in his 40s, took the young girl back to his home after a visit to the Antelope pub in nearby Lighthorne, a popular spot among staff at the racing yard for meals and celebrations. Despite her age, Rosier bought her glasses of wine at the pub, claiming he needed to return to his Hatton residence to walk his dogs before heading home.

At his Hatton home, Rosier sexually assaulted the girl, pulling her trousers down and engaging in intimate kissing. After the assault, he drove her back to the stables, where she was visibly shaken and trembling. Rosier allegedly warned her, saying, “You can’t tell anyone what just happened,” a statement that left the girl feeling frightened and confused. She wanted to confide in someone at the time but lacked the means or understanding of how to do so, leading her to keep the incident secret for several years.

It was only in 2013, when her boyfriend noticed her waking up distressed and screaming during the night, that she began to open up about her trauma. She eventually revealed the details of her assault after fleeing a pub when Rosier unexpectedly entered, prompting her to run out and tell her boyfriend what had happened. This revelation led her to report the incident to the police.

Rosier, who has since moved to Newmarket and is working at another racing yard, denied buying her drinks in the pub and claimed that she became sick after he allowed her to sleep off the alcohol at his home. He insisted that he then took her back to the stables, denying any improper conduct. However, the jury rejected his account, finding the evidence of his misconduct compelling and convincing.

In a related case in December 2015, Rosier was again found guilty of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl after taking her back to his home under the pretext of walking his dogs. The court heard that he had previously denied the allegations but was convicted after a second trial, following an earlier jury's failure to reach a verdict.

During this trial, the prosecution reiterated the details of the incident, emphasizing Rosier’s actions at his Hatton residence, where he pulled down the girl’s jeans and assaulted her. The girl, shaken and frightened, sat in her car afterward, and Rosier warned her not to tell anyone. She kept her silence for several years until her boyfriend’s concerns in 2013 prompted her to disclose the abuse and report it to the authorities.

Rosier, who currently resides in Newmarket, maintained that he had no inappropriate intentions towards the girl and denied any improper conduct at his home. He also claimed that he did not have romantic feelings for her. Despite his assertions, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him, and he was remanded in custody pending sentencing, which was adjourned to allow for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. The court rejected his application for bail, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes and the need for a custodial sentence.