JAMES BRANDRICK SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR ILKESTON CHILD RAPE

In April 2013, a disturbing case of child sexual assault resulted in the conviction and sentencing of James Brandrick, a young man from Ilkeston, who was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl. The incident, which took place in the town of Ilkeston, has left a lasting scar on the victim and her family, and has drawn significant attention from local authorities and the community alike.

According to court proceedings, the assault occurred on the evening of December 10, 2011. At the time, Brandrick was 19 years old. The young girl, who cannot be identified due to legal restrictions, was described as vulnerable and intoxicated when she encountered Brandrick on the street. The two exchanged flirtatious remarks, which led to Brandrick following her to a secluded area behind the Aldi supermarket located on Heanor Road in Ilkeston.

Once at the back of the supermarket, the pair engaged in kissing, which the girl later asked him to stop. Despite her pleas, Brandrick ignored her protests and proceeded to commit the heinous act of rape. The victim’s distress and trauma were evident in her subsequent behavior, with her constantly looking over her shoulder out of fear, as detailed in a police statement. Her mother and father were informed of the assault, and they promptly contacted the police. Authorities arrested, questioned, and charged Brandrick with the crimes.

During the trial at Derby Crown Court, Brandrick denied the charges, but the evidence presented was compelling enough for a jury to find him guilty of one count of rape and another of assault by penetration. The court heard that the victim, who was under the influence of alcohol and in a vulnerable state, did not consent to the sexual act. Judge John Burgess, presiding over the case, sentenced Brandrick, now 20, to a term of 10 years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “You took advantage of the vulnerability of a young girl, she was 12 at the time. She had drunk too much, she was out on the street, and there was some exchange of words between you of a sexual nature. You followed her and took her behind a supermarket where there was some consensual kissing. She did not want to go any further, but you ignored that. She was vulnerable because of her age and because she was drunk.”

The court did not disclose the full details of the incident during the hearing, but a police spokesperson confirmed that the attack occurred between 8:30 pm and 10 pm. To protect the victim from further trauma, authorities chose not to release a photograph of Brandrick to the media.

In addition to the legal proceedings, the impact on the victim was vividly conveyed through her own words, read out by the prosecutor, Mark Watson. The girl described how the assault had shattered her confidence, causing her to constantly look over her shoulder and become fearful of her surroundings. She expressed feelings of mistrust and revealed that she now cries herself to sleep, having lost the bubbly personality she once possessed. Her mother’s impact statement echoed these sentiments, describing her daughter’s transformation from a confident young girl into someone marked by fear and anger. The family’s suffering was palpable, with the mother emphasizing the devastating effect the crime has had on their lives.

Throughout the proceedings, Brandrick’s defense argued that he had not deliberately targeted the victim because of her age, claiming that he was young himself and that this was an isolated incident. Nevertheless, the court’s verdict was clear, and the judge’s sentencing reflected the seriousness of the crime. As Brandrick was led away to serve his sentence, members of the public and the victim’s family watched in silence, with a woman in the gallery breaking down in tears. The case has left a lasting impression on the community of Ilkeston, highlighting the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring justice is served in cases of sexual assault.