JOHN CURLEY'S SHOCKING SEX OFFENSES IN LECHLADE AND SWINDON REVEALED

In a series of disturbing revelations, John Curley, a pensioner from Lechlade, has been linked to a pattern of sexual abuse spanning several decades in the towns of Lechlade and Swindon. The details of his criminal history have come to light through court proceedings that highlight both the severity and the procedural complexities of his cases.

Back in February 2013, Curley was sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting to sexually abusing two young girls in Swindon, with the abuse occurring more than 20 years apart. The first victim, now in her late teens, disclosed that Curley had begun abusing her when she was just four years old, continuing the assault for nearly eight years. The second victim, an older woman in her forties, revealed that she had been subjected to similar abuse starting when she was eight years old in the late 1970s, with the misconduct continuing until 2008.

Prosecutor Claire Marlow detailed that the first set of offenses involved inappropriate touching on a weekly basis, beginning when the second victim was around eight years old and lasting until she was approximately eleven. The second series of offenses, which took place around the turn of the century, also spanned several years, ending when the second victim was about eleven. Both women suffered significant psychological trauma, with reports indicating that each resorted to self-harm as a consequence of their suffering.

Curley's legal case was further complicated by the way charges were brought against him. In March 2013, he faced a court in Swindon where he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual activity with a child. Judge Douglas Field sentenced him to eight years in prison and ordered that he register as a sex offender for life. Additionally, a sexual offences prevention order was imposed for ten years, restricting his liberty upon release.

Earlier, in October 2015, Curley's sentencing was revisited due to a procedural error. He had originally received two four-year sentences to run consecutively for offenses committed in the 1970s and between 2000 and 2008. However, Judge Douglas Field, at Swindon Crown Court, identified that because the charges were consolidated into a single 'multi-incident' case, the maximum sentence permissible at the time was only two years. As a result, the court was limited in the sentencing options available. Prosecutor Claire Marlow explained that the change in sentencing powers over the years contributed to this issue, and if the charges had been filed differently, the outcome might have been different.

Consequently, Judge Field reduced the initial four-year sentence to 16 months for the earlier offenses. Curley's criminal history also includes a 2013 case where he was ordered to register as a sex offender following his guilty plea. The court had adjourned the case to allow the probation service to prepare a report, and Curley was released on bail with conditions that prohibited contact with witnesses and entry into Swindon.

Throughout these proceedings, Curley's residence was identified as Canon Drive, Lechlade, and his crimes in Swindon have left a lasting impact on the victims and the community. His case underscores the importance of vigilant legal processes and the ongoing need for support for victims of such heinous crimes.