NATHANIEL JULIEN FROM HUDDERSFIELD JAILED FOR NEARLY 18 YEARS AFTER VICTIM'S DETECTIVE WORK REVEALS ABUSE
In a significant case that highlights the long-lasting impact of childhood abuse and the importance of perseverance in seeking justice, Nathaniel Julien, an 87-year-old resident of Huddersfield, has been sentenced to a total of 17 years and nine months in prison.The sentencing followed a conviction by a jury on multiple charges related to historic sexual offences committed against four different complainants.
Leeds Crown Court heard detailed accounts of Julien’s misconduct spanning several decades, beginning in the 1970s.
One of the victims, who was just a young boy at the time, had initially reported the abuse to police in 2004.
However, due to limited information at the time—he only knew his abuser as Julien—investigations did not progress further.
Despite this, the victim’s resolve did not waver, and he continued to seek justice.
Another victim, who was assaulted in the 1980s, came forward independently in 2007, providing police with details of his abuse.
Unfortunately, this report also failed to lead to immediate action.
It was not until 2015 that the first victim, driven by a desire to uncover the truth, undertook his own investigative efforts.
He traveled by bus from Halifax to Huddersfield, retracing routes to jog his memory about the location of Julien’s home.
Prosecutor Peter Hampton explained to the jury that these efforts eventually bore fruit.
The victim’s research led him to the site of Julien’s former residence, which, after more than 30 years, had become derelict.
Despite the state of disrepair, the victim was able to identify the property’s previous occupant, which ultimately helped him discover Julien’s full name.
This crucial piece of information was then passed to the police, reigniting the investigation.
The court was also told that Julien’s abuse began in the 1970s when he offered to help a young boy’s family during a difficult period.
The family, perceiving Julien as a kind and helpful figure, agreed to let the boy stay with him on weekends.
However, this arrangement turned sinister when the boy was forced to share a bed with Julien, who then subjected him to sexual assault and rape.
During this period, Julien also indecently assaulted two other boys at his home, making them touch him and giving them gifts—an act described as grooming by the prosecution.
These boys, frightened and confused, did not report the abuse at the time.
Additionally, a fourth complainant, a teenager at the time, was also sexually touched by Julien during a visit in the 1980s.
Despite Julien’s claims that the allegations were false, he was found guilty of ten counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, three counts of serious sexual assault, and one count of attempted serious sexual assault.
Julien, who resides on Belmont Close in Huddersfield, faced a stern sentence from Judge Neil Clark.
The judge emphasized the gravity of the offences and their profound psychological impact on the victims.
The case underscored the importance of persistence in seeking justice, as exemplified by the first victim’s own detective work—taking buses to locate the property and ultimately uncover Julien’s full identity.
The court’s verdict serves as a reminder of the lasting scars such crimes leave and the necessity of holding offenders accountable, regardless of how much time has passed.
