NORMAN GREEN FROM BLACKBURN AND FARNBOROUGH EX-ARMY MAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Blackburn and Farnborough, Norman Green, a 62-year-old former soldier, has been convicted of a series of heinous sexual offences involving young girls. The court heard that Green, who once served in the British Army and was stationed in the Farnborough area of Hampshire, systematically exploited his position of trust to prey on vulnerable children over a span of nearly two decades.

Green appeared before Guildford Crown Court to face sentencing after pleading guilty to 19 separate counts of indecent assault. These offences were committed between the years 1972 and 1991, with most of the incidents taking place in the Farnborough region while he was actively serving in the military. The court was told that the crimes only came to light in the late 1990s when the first victim, who had been assaulted between the ages of 13 and 15, reported her experiences to authorities. The initial disclosures prompted further investigations that uncovered a pattern of abuse spanning many years.

The prosecution, led by Simon Wilde, detailed how Green’s offending was often facilitated through his relationships with the victims’ mothers. The court heard that Green would establish friendships with single mothers, gaining their trust, and then use this access to their daughters to carry out his sexual assaults. One of the earliest victims was a girl whose mother was separated from her husband. Green would visit her home regularly, becoming a familiar figure in her life. During these visits, he befriended the girl and, over time, subjected her to repeated indecent assaults. The girl was between 13 and 15 years old at the time of the abuse.

Another young girl, aged between eight and ten, was also repeatedly sexually abused by Green. In one particularly disturbing incident, Green took one of his victims to the army barracks, where he showed her magazines before committing an indecent act. Additional offences included an assault at a local swimming pool, where Green’s predatory behavior continued. He also befriended another single mother and, when her daughter was between six and ten years old, he assaulted her multiple times. A different victim, aged 15, was subjected to two separate indecent assaults by Green.

Green’s criminal history includes a prior conviction for indecent assault on a 12-year-old girl, which was brought up during the court proceedings. He was arrested in Blackburn last year, and the court was informed that he had shown remorse for his actions. His defense lawyer, Louise D’Arcy, emphasized that Green recognized the severity of his misconduct and accepted that a custodial sentence was inevitable. She also highlighted that since his arrest, Green had been committed to seeking help and expressed a genuine desire to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program while in prison. Green’s remorse and willingness to address his behavior were acknowledged by the court.

Judge Keith Bassingthwaighte sentenced Green to a total of three years in prison, condemning his long history of abusing young girls and exploiting his military service to carry out his crimes. The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and their families, raising ongoing concerns about safeguarding and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from predatory individuals.