ROMFORD MAN IAN BISHOP SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In July 2014, Ian Bishop, a 56-year-old resident of Redriff Road, Romford, was sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of nine sexual offences committed over more than a decade.

Bishop faced charges including one count of gross indecency with a child and eight counts of indecent assault. The trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court lasted a week, during which the number of charges was reduced from thirteen to nine midway through proceedings.

During the trial, Bishop consistently denied all allegations. His legal representative, Edmund Gritt, argued that the allegations were fabricated, describing them as coming from “a small, nasty lie told a long time ago.”

The prosecution, led by Christopher Stimpson, presented the case that the victim—who cannot be named for legal reasons—had disclosed the abuse to others over an extended period. Stimpson emphasized, “We are not looking at a vindictive woman who invented this story to get back at someone. She simply has had the courage to say this is what defined her childhood.”

The court learned that Bishop had sexually abused his victim intermittently over eleven years. Mr. Stimpson described the abuse, stating, “All throughout this period there was inappropriate touching. It might have only lasted a couple of seconds, normally when there were other people present.”

He recounted multiple incidents where Bishop placed his hand between the victim’s legs. One particular event was at a theme park, as described by the victim during a police interview. A recording of her statement was played in court, during which she said, “We were really high up waiting in the queue. He was behind me and he was blatant about how he was touching me – I was trying to sort of wriggle away. There was a man behind us and I will never forget the look of horror on the man’s face.”

Ian Bishop was sentenced to ten years in prison, and he will also be registered on the sex offenders register indefinitely.