PHILLIP GALLAGHER FROM MANNINGHAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN BRADFORD

In February 2002, a disturbing case involving Phillip Gallagher, a resident of Manningham, came to light at Bradford Crown Court, revealing a long history of sexual offenses against minors. Gallagher, aged 52 and employed as a vehicle-recovery driver, was found guilty of a series of heinous crimes that spanned over two decades, including recent offenses committed in 2001.

Parents in the Manningham area expressed their outrage and deep concern over the fact that Gallagher, who had previously been convicted of similar crimes in 1994, was able to reoffend after a period of apparent rehabilitation. Their fears were compounded by the fact that Gallagher had managed to evade strict monitoring due to the timing of his last conviction, which predated the introduction of the Sexual Offenders’ Register in 1997. This register was designed to ensure that known sex offenders are kept under close surveillance, but Gallagher’s prior conviction meant he was not subject to such oversight at the time of his latest offenses.

During the court proceedings, Gallagher admitted to committing 14 counts of indecent assault between June and September of the previous year. He also pleaded guilty to charges related to the making and possession of indecent video recordings. As a result, he was sentenced to a term of seven years in prison. Additionally, the court ordered that Gallagher be placed on the Sexual Offenders’ Register for life and be subject to a 10-year license upon his release, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to the community.

Following the sentencing, a mother whose son was among Gallagher’s victims spoke out, though she requested anonymity for legal reasons. She described the trauma inflicted upon her son and the other boys involved, emphasizing that their suffering would likely continue long after the court proceedings. “It is a life sentence for them. I don’t think they ever will get over it. It will only get worse as they get older,” she said.

The court was informed of Gallagher’s manipulative behavior, including his initial friendship with a 13-year-old boy. Prosecutor Mark Fletton detailed how Gallagher had invited the boy on a drive to Rotherham to pick up a car, during which he made inappropriate comments about massaging his own son to loosen muscles. The boy later visited Gallagher’s home to use his computer but was soon asked if he could be massaged. Gallagher then took the boy to a rear bedroom where he had set up a video camera, leading to indecent assaults. Afterward, Gallagher gave the boy a £5 “fee” for his participation.

Further investigations revealed that the boy had introduced four other boys, one as young as nine, to Gallagher. These boys were also subjected to indecent assaults, often after being shown pornographic videos. The court heard that some of the boys had gone to Gallagher’s house to buy a computer game, knowing that cash was available, but they began to make excuses to leave early as Gallagher’s inappropriate behavior continued. The police arrested Gallagher after concerned parents noticed their children had excessive money and contact with him, raising suspicions.

During police questioning, Gallagher admitted that he considered nine-year-olds “a bit young” and claimed that boys aged 13 to 16 were more his preference. His criminal record included 12 sexual offenses dating back to 1976, with a notable conviction in 1978 when he was jailed for seven years for six serious attacks. Defense lawyer Ian Howard argued that although Gallagher’s pattern of behavior was troubling, he had not actively sought out young children and had experienced long periods—up to 11 and a half years—without involvement with teenage boys, during which he was involved in relationships with women, including two marriages. Howard emphasized that Gallagher was not a “ticking time bomb” and suggested that he was not a danger at all times.

Judge Peter Charlesworth sentenced Gallagher to a total of seven years, describing him as a “homosexual paedophile” who might have committed even worse offenses if not for police intervention. The judge also highlighted the aggravating factor of Gallagher’s premeditated filming of his crimes, which he said made the offenses “so much worse.” The case has left the Manningham community deeply shaken, with ongoing concerns about the safety of children and the effectiveness of monitoring systems for sex offenders.