GREGORY MURPHY FROM GREAT HARWOOD SHOCKS EAST LANCASHIRE WITH SERIAL BUS SEX OFFENSES

In a series of disturbing incidents across East Lancashire, Gregory Murphy, a known sex offender from Great Harwood, has once again come under scrutiny for his predatory behavior targeting vulnerable young women and girls on public buses. The sequence of events highlights a troubling pattern of sexual misconduct that has spanned several years, with Murphy’s actions prompting both outrage and concern among local residents and authorities alike.

Murphy, who resides on Lydia Street in Accrington, first drew attention in January 2017 when he was spared immediate imprisonment despite a history of similar offenses. The court heard that Murphy had previously served time after admitting to groping teenagers while they traveled on buses in Blackburn. His latest appearance in Preston Crown Court involved a new charge: assaulting a 12-year-old girl who was traveling alone on a bus in Oswaldwistle.

The young girl reported the incident after reading about Murphy’s previous offenses, which had been publicly documented. The court was told that the girl had been on a bus on March 2 of the previous year when she noticed Murphy taking photographs of her with his mobile phone. She responded by texting a friend for help as she prepared to disembark. However, Murphy followed her as she left the bus and aggressively pushed up against her, causing her to feel threatened. Although she initially reported the incident to the bus driver, it was only in May, after reading about Murphy’s other offenses, that she decided to report the matter to police.

During the hearing, Judge Heather Lloyd expressed her dismay at the police’s handling of the case, criticizing the eight-month delay in questioning Murphy. She remarked, “I find it astonishing that this girl made her complaint in July. There has been no sense of urgency in this case at all.”

Further details revealed that on March 2, Murphy had been observed taking photos of the girl on his phone while she was alone on the bus. The girl had attempted to seek help by texting a friend, and when she tried to leave the bus, Murphy followed her and pushed her against a wall. Despite her reporting the incident to the bus driver, police only questioned Murphy after he was released from prison.

Murphy’s criminal history was also discussed during the proceedings. In June of the previous year, he was jailed for sexually assaulting two girls within an hour while they traveled on buses in Blackburn. At the time of the May 8 attacks, Murphy was serving a suspended sentence for a similar assault on a girl in Bolton. Murphy admitted to the sexual assault, claiming he was intoxicated and unaware of the girl’s age, who was dressed in her school uniform. He also acknowledged being caught on CCTV footage but claimed limited memory of the incident.

Judge Lloyd condemned Murphy’s actions, stating, “What you did to this little girl was horrific. She has had to undergo counseling because of what you did to her. She shouldn’t have to worry about traveling on a bus in her school uniform without some pervert like you rubbing up against her for your sexual gratification.” The judge emphasized that Murphy’s history of similar offenses was deeply concerning and that the delay in prosecuting the latest case was unfair to the victim.

Although she acknowledged the seriousness of the offense, Judge Lloyd decided against a custodial sentence, citing the manner in which the case had been handled. Instead, she imposed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to restrict Murphy’s future conduct.

Murphy’s troubling pattern of behavior was further illustrated by a previous incident in June 2016, when he was jailed after attacking two teenage girls on buses in Blackburn. The court heard that Murphy, then 40, targeted two 16-year-old girls within an hour, with one fleeing to McDonald’s in terror and the other witnessing him shift his attention to a younger group of teenagers. Murphy’s actions included grabbing one girl’s bottom and following her off the bus, prompting her to report the incident two days later. Murphy, who was residing on Gladstone Street in Great Harwood at the time, admitted to the assaults but claimed intoxication and memory loss.

Judge Pamela Badley sentenced Murphy to 12 months in prison, activating three months of his previous suspended sentence. She condemned his predatory behavior, emphasizing the need to protect the public, especially young women traveling on public transport, from individuals like him. The court’s decisions reflect a broader concern about the safety of vulnerable populations and the importance of swift justice in cases of sexual misconduct on public transportation.