THOMAS CURLEY SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR ABUSE IN RIBBLETON

In August 2013, a disturbing case of child sexual abuse came to light involving Thomas Curley, a 73-year-old man from Cedar Road, Ribbleton. Curley was found guilty of a series of heinous offences committed over a span of more than a decade, targeting two young brothers whose trust he had exploited under the guise of a familial relationship.

Thomas Curley pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to a total of 14 counts related to historic abuse, with the charges dating back to the early 1990s. The court heard that his crimes included two counts of attempted rape and 12 counts of indecent assault. Despite the severity of his actions, Curley, who appeared in court on crutches due to his frailty, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The judge, Pamela Badley, explained that he narrowly avoided a life sentence because the offences occurred before recent changes in sentencing guidelines for such crimes.

During the proceedings, two of the victims, now adults, were present in court. Judge Badley addressed Curley directly, condemning his betrayal of the family’s trust. She stated, “The family trusted you, and the way you repaid that trust was to perform acts that these days would be called rape. You don’t see yourself as a child sex offender. You don’t see yourself as presenting a potential risk to children. But your pattern of behaviour is such that young people have been at risk from you and will be in the future.”

It was revealed that Curley had ingratiated himself with the family, establishing a close relationship that allowed him to carry out his abuse with relative ease. The eldest of the two brothers was subjected to almost daily assaults from the age of just six. Most of these offences occurred while Curley was babysitting or during routine visits to take the children to school. The court also heard that he assaulted the boy during a fishing trip and while accompanying him on his paper round.

As the eldest victim reached 16, he threatened Curley with a knife, which prompted the offender to shift his focus to the younger brother. Over the course of 18 months to two years, Curley repeatedly abused the younger sibling, often several times a week. Prosecutor Jeremy Grout-Smith described Curley as a “trusted, close family friend” who gained unrestricted access to their home, which facilitated his ongoing abuse.

The court detailed how Curley’s behaviour grew more aggressive over time. He would sometimes physically restrain the boys, grabbing the eldest by the throat or tying his hands before assaulting him. The impact on the family was described as “devastating,” with the eldest brother suffering from feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing, and turning to alcohol and drugs to cope. He also required counselling to deal with the trauma.

The youngest brother was left feeling like “a piece of meat,” losing confidence and feeling disgusted with himself. Like his older brother, he also turned to cannabis as a means of escape. The prosecutor emphasized that “the whole family has been tortured by Curley’s evil conduct towards the boys.”

In his defence, Jane Dagnall highlighted that Curley had a history of child sex convictions dating back to 1955 and claimed that he had been a victim of abuse himself as a child. She added that he was at risk of self-harm and had previously attempted suicide.

Judge Badley condemned Curley’s actions as “depraved and disgusting behaviour towards children.” She acknowledged the profound suffering inflicted on the brothers and their family, noting that the eldest was only six when he was first victimized. The judge considered whether a life sentence was appropriate but concluded that, due to the absence of complete rape offences, a lengthy prison term was the most suitable punishment. She emphasized the significant risk Curley posed to the public despite his age, stating that his victims would be counting the days until his release.

In addition to the 12-year prison sentence, Curley will serve a six-year extended licence period upon release, ensuring ongoing supervision and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.