BRAMPTON PAEDOPHILE ROBERT BAILEY SENTENCED IN WILTSHIRE FOR ABUSING TWO GIRLS

In September 2020, a disturbing case involving Robert Bailey, a former vicar from Brampton, came to light as he was sentenced for the sexual abuse of two young girls. The court heard harrowing details of his actions, which spanned several years and left lasting scars on his victims.

Robert Bailey, aged 71 at the time, was convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault involving two girls, one of whom was under the age of 13 when the abuse began. The other girl was just nine years old when Bailey started molesting her. The abuse reportedly took place over an extended period, with the victims subjected to inappropriate touching and coercion while in his presence.

Bailey, who previously served as a chaplain in the Royal Air Force for 24 years, including postings at Lyneham, and later as a parish priest in Bishops Cannings, was found guilty of abusing the girls during his time in Wiltshire. The court was told that the abuse involved touching the girls sexually, as well as encouraging them to touch him, often during quiet moments such as watching television or when they were lying in his bed.

One of the victims, a younger girl, provided a heartbreaking statement read aloud by the prosecutor, Christopher Stopa. She expressed her feelings of anger and pain, stating, “I don’t want the judge or anyone to know how I feel. I don’t want to talk about my feelings.” She further revealed, “He has ruined my life,” highlighting the profound impact of Bailey’s actions.

A mother of one of the victims also addressed the court, her voice trembling as she described her anguish. She emphasized that Bailey, who had lived his life as a man of God, should never have been allowed to harm anyone, and that no amount of remorse could undo the damage he caused.

According to the prosecution, police were alerted to the abuse after the victims confided in someone. The older girl recounted that she was first molested when she was around eight or nine years old, after mistakenly getting into Bailey’s bed. She also described an incident where Bailey attempted to kiss her multiple times. The court heard that Bailey was only charged with one specific incident involving the older girl, which occurred when she was approximately 11 or 12. During this incident, Bailey invited her into his room out of fear of a spider, and he used her hand to touch himself while they were lying in his bed.

The younger girl, who believed she was about nine when the abuse started, recounted that Bailey would touch her while they sat on the sofa watching TV and also molested her on the floor of his office. She told the court that Bailey had warned her not to tell anyone about what was happening, claiming he could get into serious trouble if she did.

Further evidence revealed that police discovered a story on Bailey’s computer depicting an older man having sex with young girls, although Bailey denied being the author of this material. He admitted to the sexual offences during an interview with detectives in 2018, but it was not until two years later that he was brought before the courts.

Bailey, who was residing in Brampton, Cumbria at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13 by touching. Despite his guilty plea, the case drew attention from prominent figures, including the Bishop of Carlisle, who provided a character reference for Bailey. However, a probation report classified him as a high risk of reoffending and a serious threat to young girls.

In sentencing, Judge Peter Crabtree emphasized the gravity of Bailey’s crimes, stating, “The only person who should feel guilt in this case is you.” Bailey was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to comply with a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect potential future victims.