RONALD EVANS AND SHOCKING SEXUAL OFFENSES IN BRISTOL

Ronald Evans, an 82-year-old man known for his long history of criminal behavior, has been remanded back into custody after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman while he was on licence. Evans, who has earned notoriety as Britain’s longest-serving prisoner, has a criminal record that spans several decades, including a series of rapes and a notorious murder.

Evans’s criminal history dates back to 1963 when he was convicted of the murder and rape of a woman. After serving 11 years for that heinous crime, he was released on a lifetime licence in 2018. Despite his release, Evans’s past actions continued to cast a shadow over his life, and he was recently arrested again, leading to a retrial at Harrow Crown Court, sitting at Hendon Magistrates. The charges he faced included one count of sexual assault, which he was convicted of by a majority verdict of 11 to one after more than five hours of deliberation.

During the proceedings, Evans appeared emotionless as the jury returned their verdicts. He was acquitted of two other counts of sexual assault involving a different woman. The court was told that Evans had a long history of sexual offenses, with nine previous convictions—eight for indecent assault and one for rape—spanning from 1977 to 1979. His crimes in the late 1970s included a series of attacks on young women aged between 18 and 33 along the dark alleyways of Clifton’s Durdham Downs, where he terrorized the community for approximately 20 months.

The police had to implement a honey-trap operation, codenamed Argus, at the beginning of 1979 to apprehend Evans. Over a period of 11 weeks, eleven female officers acted as bait to lure him into custody, ultimately leading to his arrest. Evans’s criminal activities did not cease after his initial imprisonment; he was released from prison in November 2018 after serving a total of 57 years behind bars.

Despite his advanced age, Evans continued to exhibit inappropriate sexual desires. Court evidence revealed that he had been volunteering at a local community centre, where he developed relationships with women, some of whom were vulnerable due to mental health issues or disabilities. The prosecution argued that Evans targeted these women deliberately, exploiting their vulnerabilities.

One of the women, whom Evans was cleared of assaulting, testified that he told her, "You can trust me; all these ladies love me. I am not trying to get in your knickers. Not yet, anyway." Meanwhile, another woman, who was convicted of assault, recounted her experience of befriending Evans at the community centre. She described how, after agreeing to go for a meal with him at a nearby pub, she later returned to his home. During that visit, Evans showed her explicit emails and began to touch her inappropriately on the sofa. When she expressed her desire to leave, Evans hugged her and then asked, "Ooo can I touch your bum?".

The court heard that Evans’s targeting of these women was influenced by their physical disabilities and mental health issues. The prosecution’s case emphasized that Evans’s previous convictions, all committed against women at night, demonstrated a pattern of predatory behavior. Ms. Sales, the prosecutor, pointed out that Evans had adapted his tactics with age, moving from chasing women in their 30s to seeking out vulnerable women at community centres.

During the trial, Evans claimed he had changed and insisted he had treated his recent victims with kindness. He suggested that one of the women might have falsely accused him out of anger over their friendship ending. However, the evidence presented, including searches on adult websites and sexualized conversations with friends found on his mobile phone, painted a different picture. The police also noted that Evans had attempted to maintain his inappropriate desires despite his age.

Evans’s defense argued that he was a reformed man, but the court was told that his history of breaches of license conditions meant he would have been returned to prison regardless of the verdict. Following his arrest in August of the previous year, Evans refused to answer questions during police interviews, choosing to remain silent.

The judge, Her Honour Judge Francis, addressed the jury, acknowledging the difficulty of the case and emphasizing the importance of their role in ensuring justice. She expressed gratitude for their service, noting that their work was vital to the functioning of the criminal justice system.

Sentencing for Evans is scheduled for Thursday, November 16, and the court will determine the appropriate punishment based on the conviction and his ongoing breaches of license conditions.