October 2015: John curley was released March 2013 Lechlade pensioner who abused young girls in Swindon has sentence reduced A PENSIONER who sexually abused two young girls has had his jail term cut by two years and eight months because of a mistake in sentencing. John Curley had been given two four-year prison sentences to run consecutively for offences committed in the 1970s and from 2000-2008 in Swindon. This week Judge Douglas Field, at Swindon crown court, was told that because the 72-year-old, formerly of Canon Drive, Lechlade, had faced one ‘multi incident’ charge, relating to the earlier offences, a judge was restricted in the sentence he could pass. At the time of offending the maximum sentence was only two years, so despite admitting repeated offending against the young victim, the court’s sentencing powers were tied. Prosecutor Claire Marlow said the problem arose because of the change in sentencing powers over the years but that if he had been charged differently the situation would not have arisen. She said the court could not go beyond the maximum two years and must also give Curley a discount for pleading guilty. Judge Field cut the first four-year jail term to 16 months. Curley was caught after a girl, now in her late teens, told police how he had been inappropriately touching her for eight years, starting when she was four-years-old. After speaking out, a second victim came forward and reported assaults throughout the 1970s which started when she was eight. Curley admitted two counts of indecent assault and one of sexual activity with a child. He will serve half the sentence behind bars and will have to register as a sex offender on his release. February 2013 Pensioner jailed for sexually abusing young girls in Swindon A PENSIONER who sexually abused two young girls more than 20 years apart has been jailed for eight years. John Curley molested one of the children starting when she was just four-years-old, carrying on the abuse for almost eight years. After the girl, now in her late teens, came forward an older victim of the 72-year-old heard about the allegations and also told what had happened to her. As a result of the offending, which took place in Swindon, the court heard both victims had suffered terrible psychological damage, each resorting to self harm. Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Curley first struck when the victim, now in her forties, was an eight-year-old in the late 1970s. He would regularly touch the child inappropriately on an almost weekly basis until she was about 11. Miss Marlow said the second set of offences began around the turn of the century, continuing until 2008. The girl recalled how it starting when she was in the reception class at school, meaning she was four-years-old, again ending when she was about 11. Curley, now of Canon Drive, Lechlade, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one of sexual activity with a child. Michael Hall, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity meaning the victims had the peace of mind that they would not have to attend court. “He acknowledged his wrongdoing and is clearly ready to take these first important steps to rectify what has clearly been a fault in his thinking,” he said. Judge Douglas Field jailed him for eight years he also told him he will have to register as a sex offender for life. He also imposed a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years, which will restrict his liberty when he is released from prison. January 2013 OAP on Swindon sex offender register A PENSIONER has been ordered to register as a sex offender after admitting abusing two young girls more than 20 years apart. John Curley molested the first child between 1977 and the end of 1981, when she was under 14. The 72-year-old then abused another child when she was aged between seven and 13, between late 2000 and 2008. All of the offences took place in Swindon. Curley, now of Canon Drive, Lechlade, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one of sexual activity with a child. Judge Douglas Field, at Swindon Crown Court, adjourned the case to January 18 to give the probation service time to compile a report. He released him on bail on condition he does not contact witnesses or go to an address in Swindon.