CHELTENHAM SEX ABUSER IAN BLOWERS SENTENCED FOR CHILD OFFENSES
| Red Rose Database
Cheltenham Sexual Abuser
In October 2010, the town of Cheltenham was shaken by the sentencing of Ian Blowers, a man previously residing on Salisbury Avenue, who was convicted of serious sexual offenses committed against young girls during the 1980s. The victims, both women now adults, displayed remarkable bravery and resilience by coming forward and sharing their harrowing experiences, which ultimately led to Blowers's conviction.
At Gloucester Crown Court, Blowers, aged 63 at the time of sentencing, received a custodial sentence totaling two years and nine months. The court was informed by prosecutor Nick O’Brien that the two women, whose identities remain protected, were between the ages of 11 and 14 when the offenses occurred. Both victims provided detailed victim impact statements that were described as profoundly moving and distressing, highlighting the long-lasting effects of the abuse on their lives.
Mr. O’Brien emphasized that each woman believed her life had been significantly marred by the abuse. One of the victims recounted how the trauma had contributed to the breakdown of multiple relationships, illustrating the deep and enduring scars left by Blowers’s actions. The court heard that Blowers had initially denied the allegations and was scheduled for trial; however, he changed his plea to guilty last month after seeking an indication of the potential maximum sentence he could face.
Following the court's disclosure that the maximum penalty could be three and a half years, Blowers admitted to indecently assaulting one girl on five separate occasions between October 1984 and October 1988, when she was aged between 11 and 14. He also confessed to committing four similar offenses against the other girl, spanning from February 1988 to October 1989, during which she was between 11 and 13 years old. The charges detailed acts of intimate rubbing and touching, with one case involving a more serious sexual assault.
Judge William Hart, presiding over the case, described the offenses as occurring over a period of approximately a year or more. He noted that Blowers’s wife had rejected him following his guilty plea, underscoring the personal and social consequences of his actions. Despite his previous reputation as a man of good character, the judge acknowledged the gravity of the crimes.
Defending Blowers, solicitor Giles Nelson, revealed that the defendant’s wife and 15-year-old son were present in court, visibly distressed by the admissions. Mr. Nelson stated, “He has behaved in a way which is, on his own admission, disgraceful. He now accepts that the offenses were with some regularity, on a monthly basis. Asked why he behaved in that way he simply has no explanation at all. He has blocked out in his own mind the details of what he did to those children. He cannot reconcile the man he is now with the man who was offending in that abusive way at that time.”
Judge Hart sentenced Blowers to two years and nine months in prison, with the sentences to run concurrently for each charge. Addressing Blowers directly, the judge remarked, “You accept that you habitually abused these girls. You rightly describe your own conduct as despicable.”
Following the conclusion of the hearing, Detective Constable Lennox Shaw expressed his admiration for the victims’ courage, stating, “I have been impressed by the courage and commitment of the two victims, who have shown great faith in the police and the criminal justice system. They are aware the defendant’s actions will have far-reaching consequences not only on them, but also on his own family. They have lived with this for a long time and hopefully can now readjust their lives.”
At Gloucester Crown Court, Blowers, aged 63 at the time of sentencing, received a custodial sentence totaling two years and nine months. The court was informed by prosecutor Nick O’Brien that the two women, whose identities remain protected, were between the ages of 11 and 14 when the offenses occurred. Both victims provided detailed victim impact statements that were described as profoundly moving and distressing, highlighting the long-lasting effects of the abuse on their lives.
Mr. O’Brien emphasized that each woman believed her life had been significantly marred by the abuse. One of the victims recounted how the trauma had contributed to the breakdown of multiple relationships, illustrating the deep and enduring scars left by Blowers’s actions. The court heard that Blowers had initially denied the allegations and was scheduled for trial; however, he changed his plea to guilty last month after seeking an indication of the potential maximum sentence he could face.
Following the court's disclosure that the maximum penalty could be three and a half years, Blowers admitted to indecently assaulting one girl on five separate occasions between October 1984 and October 1988, when she was aged between 11 and 14. He also confessed to committing four similar offenses against the other girl, spanning from February 1988 to October 1989, during which she was between 11 and 13 years old. The charges detailed acts of intimate rubbing and touching, with one case involving a more serious sexual assault.
Judge William Hart, presiding over the case, described the offenses as occurring over a period of approximately a year or more. He noted that Blowers’s wife had rejected him following his guilty plea, underscoring the personal and social consequences of his actions. Despite his previous reputation as a man of good character, the judge acknowledged the gravity of the crimes.
Defending Blowers, solicitor Giles Nelson, revealed that the defendant’s wife and 15-year-old son were present in court, visibly distressed by the admissions. Mr. Nelson stated, “He has behaved in a way which is, on his own admission, disgraceful. He now accepts that the offenses were with some regularity, on a monthly basis. Asked why he behaved in that way he simply has no explanation at all. He has blocked out in his own mind the details of what he did to those children. He cannot reconcile the man he is now with the man who was offending in that abusive way at that time.”
Judge Hart sentenced Blowers to two years and nine months in prison, with the sentences to run concurrently for each charge. Addressing Blowers directly, the judge remarked, “You accept that you habitually abused these girls. You rightly describe your own conduct as despicable.”
Following the conclusion of the hearing, Detective Constable Lennox Shaw expressed his admiration for the victims’ courage, stating, “I have been impressed by the courage and commitment of the two victims, who have shown great faith in the police and the criminal justice system. They are aware the defendant’s actions will have far-reaching consequences not only on them, but also on his own family. They have lived with this for a long time and hopefully can now readjust their lives.”