TERENCE MANDER FROM WARWICK AND LEAMINGTON SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE CASES

In a series of harrowing legal proceedings, Terence Mander, a man originally from Warwick and later residing in Leamington, was convicted of multiple historic sexual assault charges involving two young girls from the 1980s. The case, which spanned several years of investigation and court hearings, culminated in a significant prison sentence and a lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender.

Back in July 2018, Warwick Crown Court found Mander guilty of nine counts of indecent assault—seven related to one victim and two to another. The jury's verdict followed over 13 hours of deliberation, during which they carefully considered the testimonies of the victims, both of whom were approximately 13 years old at the time of the alleged incidents. Mander, then 71 years old and living on Livery Street in Leamington, had denied all charges, claiming that the women’s allegations were fabricated.

Prosecutor Cathlyn Orchard presented evidence indicating that Mander had groomed the first girl, who was known to him through her mother, and that she would visit his garage workshop in Warwick after school hours. The girl, at the time, did not disclose the abuse because she believed she was in love with Mander. It was only years later, as an adult, that she began to confront the truth of her experiences through counseling sessions. She confided in a work colleague, who advised her to tell her husband, and eventually, she reported the abuse to the police in 2016. The victim had kept diaries during the 1980s, marking dates of sexual incidents with Mander with an asterisk, and distinguishing incidents involving Mander with a 'T' next to the asterisk.

In addition to the first victim, the court heard that Mander had indecently assaulted another 13-year-old girl. His misconduct included kissing her when he found himself alone with her and sitting next to her at her home. Over the years, the second victim also confided in close friends and partners about her experiences, but she did not come forward to authorities until 2016, after hearing that the first victim had done so.

During police interviews, Mander denied ever touching either girl sexually and maintained his innocence throughout the trial. However, the jury found the victims' testimonies credible and concluded that Mander's denials were false. Judge Sylvia de Bertodano, presiding over the case, sentenced Mander to a total of nine years in prison. She also ordered him to register as a sex offender for life, emphasizing the lasting impact of his actions on the victims' lives. The judge stated, “You took away the childhoods of these two little girls, and you blighted their adult lives. No-one can give that back to them, I can only pass a sentence which I hope will give them some conclusion and closure. I make no reduction in sentence for the fact that this happened many years ago. You have had your freedom in that time.”

In January 2019, Mander’s appeal against the conviction was dismissed. The judge overseeing the appeal confirmed that the original sentencing remarks and conclusions were beyond criticism, reaffirming the court’s stance on the severity of his crimes and the importance of justice for the victims.