PHILIP EBBS FROM BERKELEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN GLOUCESTER

In November 2016, Philip Ebbs, a Baptist churchgoer residing in Main Road, Berkeley, was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls. The case was heard at Gloucester Crown Court, where a jury convicted Ebbs of multiple charges related to inappropriate conduct involving minors.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Jamie Tabor QC addressed Ebbs directly, stating, "I don’t believe you are a paedophile in the commonly accepted sense of the word. Frankly, you have shown very little remorse." The judge emphasized the significant distress caused to the victims, noting that the children experienced considerable anxiety due to Ebbs' actions. He further explained that Ebbs' behavior appeared to be impulsive, suggesting that he could not resist the temptation to touch the girls inappropriately when the opportunity arose, contrasting this with individuals who actively seek out children for abuse.

Judge Tabor clarified that because Ebbs had pleaded not guilty to the four charges, he was not entitled to any reduction in his sentence. The court heard that Ebbs had claimed during his trial that he had only given massages to the girls without any inappropriate touching. However, the prosecution presented evidence that contradicted his account, revealing that one of the victims had kept her silence for years about the abuse she endured at Ebbs’ hands. It was only after learning that another girl had reported similar misconduct that she decided to come forward and disclose her own experiences.

The first victim, who was under 10 at the time, initially did not tell anyone about the abuse. Her account detailed how Ebbs had tickled and massaged her arms and legs, actions she later recognized as inappropriate. The second victim, who was a teenager at the time, described how Ebbs would stroke her legs and feet openly in front of others, which she found unsettling. One day, when she was feeling unwell and home alone from school, Ebbs unexpectedly arrived at her house. He sat with her on the sofa, watched TV, and asked her to rest her head on his lap. She recounted that Ebbs began to stroke and massage her back, and his hand eventually moved under her clothing, touching her breast and private parts. Feeling uncomfortable, she moved away and avoided further contact.

Later, she confided in a church youth leader about the incident. Her mother was informed, and subsequently, the girl’s father questioned her about any past incidents. She then revealed that Ebbs had previously tickled and massaged her arms and legs, but the abuse had escalated to touching her breasts and private areas. This victim was under 10 years old at the time, and she admitted that she was too young to understand that Ebbs’ actions were wrong. As she grew older, she recognized the misconduct but chose not to report it immediately, deciding instead to keep her distance.

Victim impact statements read aloud in court highlighted the emotional toll of the abuse. Both girls expressed feelings of insecurity and fear, especially around older men or individuals resembling Ebbs. One victim stated, "I now feel insecure around older people and I get quite worried around people who look like him because they make me fearful and uncomfortable. I feel down and in low mood." The other explained her reluctance to engage in physical contact, noting that the court process was distressing but necessary for justice. She added that activities like tickling, which had previously been common in her household, now cause her discomfort and sickness.

Judge Tabor concluded the proceedings by emphasizing the gravity of the offenses and the impact on the victims, sentencing Ebbs to four years in prison. The case underscored the importance of vigilance within community and church settings to protect vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.