RONALD RICKARDS, BRISTOL PENSIONER, SENTENCED FOR DECADES-OLD CHILD ABUSE
In August 2012, a Bristol pensioner was finally held accountable for child abuse committed many years earlier.Ronald Rickards, now 77 and residing on Brambling Walk, was convicted by a jury of four charges of indecency towards a girl aged between seven and ten, as heard in Bristol Crown Court.
The court was informed that Rickards has since acknowledged his actions and expressed remorse.
Judge David Ticehurst sentenced him to a three-year community order, requiring him to participate in a sex offenders programme.
Additionally, Rickards was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years.
Judge Ticehurst remarked on the impact of Rickards' actions, stating, "You have robbed the girl of her childhood joys.
You will find that programme extremely difficult.
You will complete it when you are nearly 81 years old.
You should be thoroughly ashamed of the way you behaved all those years ago." The victim, who attended the sentencing but remains anonymous for legal reasons, spoke briefly about her feelings: "I wanted a bit more, but I’m happy I got justice." Prosecutor Kerry Barker told the jury that Rickards had touched the victim’s private parts and coerced her into performing indecent acts.
The girl did not tell her parents at the time because it was a secret and her memories of the abuse were initially blocked out.
The abuse only came to light on April 8 of the previous year, when the girl reported the incident to the police during a recorded interview, which the jury viewed.
Police investigations uncovered witnesses who had discussed the allegations.
Rickards was arrested on June 8 of the same year.
At the time of his arrest, he denied any wrongdoing and was later found to have been living in Filton before moving to South Africa.
Defence solicitor Catherine Spedding highlighted the success of the Thames Valley sex offenders programme, suggesting Rickards might have suppressed his memory of the abuse out of shame.
She added, "He is very sorry for what happened and the hurt that has been caused." The victim expressed gratitude for the support she received, including from case investigator Laura Miller and independent adviser Helen Whittle.
She stated, “I never knew how much support was out there until I reported what happened to me.
You don’t need to suffer in silence, no matter how long it’s been, you will be believed and supported all the way.
There is a website called napac that helped me a great deal.
I hope others find the strength to come forward and, together, we can make a difference.”
