JACK BEALES FROM RHYL SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR ABUSE OF CHILD VICTIM

In December 2016, a disturbing case unfolded at Mold Crown Court involving Jack Beales, a 93-year-old man from Rhyl, who faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse. The court heard harrowing details of his long history of targeting a young girl, with the judge condemning his depraved behavior and mindset.

Judge Rhys Rowlands delivered a stern warning to Beales, emphasizing that he would likely spend the remainder of his life behind bars. The judge stated, "Thankfully, in my experience, it makes this case very, very rare," highlighting the gravity of the offenses. Beales was remanded into custody to await sentencing scheduled for the following week, with the judge cautioning him to prepare for a significant prison term. "Sadly, you ought to be prepared to spend the rest of your time in prison. I doubt very much if you will be released unless as an act of clemency by the Home Secretary," he declared.

The court proceedings revealed that the victim, now a woman in her 30s, endured years of horrific sexual abuse starting from the age of six. The abuse included rape and other sexual indignities, inflicted over a period of approximately nine to ten years. It was only after many years that she found the courage to confront her abuser.

She approached Beales’ residence, revealing that she had kept a secret for many years that had been making her ill. She explained that Beales, a known paedophile, had raped her and subjected her to various sexual acts during her childhood. The victim described her fear of Beales, who had held a manipulative and threatening influence over her, warning her that she would go to jail if she ever disclosed the abuse.

At the age of 92, Beales admitted in front of his wife and the victim’s mother that he had groped her as a child and had made her kiss his private parts. However, he denied committing rape. During the interview, he bizarrely claimed that such acts were "what men did" and insisted he was "giving her pleasure."

Beales, who resided in the Graianrhyd area between Mold and Ruthin before being expelled from his family home and subsequently living on John Street in Rhyl, faced multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to indecency with a child and indecent assault, which covered numerous incidents. However, he denied five charges of rape and six other sexual offenses committed when he was between 67 and 77 years old. Despite his denials, the jury unanimously convicted him of the charges.

The victim recounted her traumatic experiences, describing the pain of the abuse as excruciating and recalling the events vividly, as if they happened yesterday. She explained that she was too frightened to tell anyone at the time and was confused about what was happening to her. At one point, Beales told her that the abuse was "just practice" for when she had a boyfriend, and disturbingly claimed he knew she was enjoying it.

Prosecutor Anna Pope highlighted Beales’ manipulative nature, noting that he would sexually abuse the girl when they were alone. The victim, overwhelmed by her suffering, decided to confront her abuser in August of that year, feeling that she had no other option. She suffered from depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, and believed that she needed to act now to finally move on with her life.

Accompanied by a friend and her mother—who was unaware of the full extent of her daughter’s ordeal—the victim confronted Beales at his home. She told him, "You know what the secret is Jack," in front of his wife. When Beales was informed that he was a paedophile, he initially appeared taken aback and laughed, but then became aggressive, shouting and denying the allegations. He accused her of lying and questioned why she was bringing it up now. The victim explained that she could no longer live with the burden of her secret, which had made her life hell.

Beales later admitted to fondling her and getting her to touch him, claiming, "I was giving her pleasure." He also expressed confusion about why she was bringing up the past, stating, "because I did it so long ago."

During police interviews at Mold community hospital, Beales dismissed the allegations as "bunkum" and refused to comment further when questioned about the accusations. When asked what he found amusing, he responded that he could chuckle if he wanted. Notably, Beales chose not to give evidence in his own defense during the trial, leaving the court to consider the evidence presented against him.