ROBERT GASKELL'S SHOCKING ABUSE IN MANCHESTER: DAUGHTER AND EX-WIFE REVEAL DARK PAST
In October 2017, a disturbing case involving Robert Gaskell, a man from Manchester, came to light as his past crimes were publicly exposed.Gaskell, aged 60, was sentenced to ten years in prison after a series of allegations surfaced, revealing that he had sexually assaulted three women over a span of more than a decade, from 1973 to 1984.
These women, whose identities are protected by legal restrictions, recounted harrowing experiences of abuse that began when they were children, with at least one victim being just nine years old at the time of the assault.
During the sentencing at Manchester Crown Court, Gaskell’s ex-wife, Mary Clare, also 60, and their daughter, Wendy Wilks, now 38, observed the proceedings from the public gallery.
Since the conviction, both women have come forward with further allegations, claiming that Gaskell subjected Mary to violent domestic abuse and that Wendy was sexually abused at the tender age of four.
Their testimonies suggest that Gaskell’s abusive behavior may have affected many more victims, prompting them to urge others who might have suffered at his hands to come forward and seek justice.
Wendy, who is currently a manager at an energy company, described the emotional turmoil she experienced upon hearing the verdict.
She revealed that she had not seen her biological father for fifteen years by the time of his conviction, and her mother, Mary, had been divorced from Gaskell for over three decades.
Wendy recounted that for many years she was unaware of the reasons behind her estrangement from her father, but disturbing dreams persisted, which she later understood were linked to her past trauma.
It was only at age 13 that Wendy confronted her mother about her dreams and learned the painful truth: that Gaskell had allegedly sexually abused her when she was just four years old.
Mary recalled that the shocking revelation came shortly after Wendy’s baptism in 1984.
She described how her daughter had confided in a relative about the abuse using childlike but unmistakable language.
This revelation was a devastating blow to Mary, who admitted she had suspected Gaskell’s darker side but had not fully understood its extent.
Mary, who met Gaskell at age 14 in 1972, described her initial impression of him as a seemingly kind young man, though she later learned that he had a reputation for being unpleasant among peers from Parrs Wood High School.
She recounted several disturbing incidents, such as Gaskell intentionally hitting her with a dart during a game of darts or deliberately kicking a ball into her face during a football match, which she now believes were signs of his violent tendencies.
Mary married Gaskell when she was 17, and she alleges that his abuse extended beyond emotional and physical violence to include acts of violence during her pregnancy and in public settings.
She endured these hardships for years, influenced by her Irish Catholic upbringing, which stigmatized divorce.
Her decision to leave him in 1982 was prompted by a violent attack in the street, where Gaskell assaulted her so severely that she had to run and hide in a bin, reminiscent of the cartoon character Top Cat.
Despite her suffering, Mary never believed that Gaskell would harm their child, Wendy.
However, she later observed Wendy exhibiting strange behaviors, such as painting nursery pictures entirely black and complaining of soreness, which she now attributes to the abuse.
Mary did not initially report the domestic abuse to authorities.
She recalled visiting the council offices when she first attempted to leave Gaskell, only to be dismissed by a clerk who remarked on her appearance and her children’s well-dressed state, discouraging her from taking action.
It was only after Wendy disclosed her own abuse that Mary contacted the police, leading to Gaskell’s arrest and charges of indecency.
During the 1984 trial, Mary was unable to testify in court as she was called away for lunch, and upon her return, she was told by police officers that the case was over and Gaskell had been acquitted on a technicality due to procedural errors during the investigation.
Gaskell’s trial was ultimately dismissed because the court found that the interview procedures had not been properly followed, rendering his confessions inadmissible.
Mary was devastated by this outcome but eventually remarried and found happiness with her second husband, Ralph.
Meanwhile, Wendy struggled through adolescence, haunted by her past.
In her twenties, she reconnected with Gaskell, which caused her mother great distress, as she feared their developing relationship might rekindle the cycle of abuse.
In 2000, Mary took the step of writing to her local newspaper, urging the community to ‘name and shame’ paedophiles like Gaskell, in hopes of protecting others and preventing further harm from his actions.
