TERENCE BERWICK'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN PLYMOUTH AND SOUTH DEVON REVEALED
In a disturbing case heard at Plymouth Crown Court, the 66-year-old convicted murderer Terence Berwick was found guilty of grooming and sexually assaulting young girls in the Plymouth and South Devon areas.The court was informed that Berwick, who is currently held at HMP Lewes in Sussex, had a long history of violent and predatory behavior, including the murder of his infant son in 1969, for which he is serving a life sentence.
Recently, he was recalled to prison to serve the remaining part of that sentence.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Malcolm Galloway, detailed how Berwick used alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis as tools to manipulate and lure vulnerable girls.
These substances were offered as 'treats' to gain their trust and encourage their presence at his premises.
The court heard that Berwick's grooming tactics involved not only offering substances but also enticing the girls with pornographic videos and making sexual suggestions.
In one particularly serious incident, he approached a 12-year-old girl, offering her money in exchange for her touching herself, which she refused, telling him to stop, and which then led to a violent sexual assault.
Multiple victims recounted how Berwick would provide cigarettes, touch, tickle, and grab them, often kissing them on the lips.
The court was told that his predatory behavior extended to encouraging other girls to bring friends to his location, thereby expanding his network of victims.
The case came to light when one girl confided in her parent about Berwick's inappropriate activities.
This disclosure prompted police investigations, during which additional victims came forward, revealing a pattern of abuse spanning several years.
Berwick's defense attorney, Rupert Taylor, acknowledged that his client had been released under license in the late 1970s but had since fallen into drug use, specifically street drugs.
The court was informed that following his arrest in 2007 on sex charges, Berwick was once again sent back to prison.
The judge sentenced him to a total of six years in prison, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to the community.
The court also noted that if Berwick were to be released in the future, it would not be into unrestricted community life, given the gravity of his offenses and his criminal history.
