Two decades behind bars for 'wicked' pensioner who sexually abused young teens

A Derbyshire pensioner who sexually abused two young teens years apart from each other has been handed a 20-year sentence. Derby Crown Court heard how the first victim was given alcohol and cannabis in return for sexual favours from Keith Bryan who also took her out in his car and bought her Burger King meals.

The second girl said she felt "frozen and scared” when the 67-year-old abused her and he later sent her videos of himself touching himself sexually.

Judge Jonathan Bennett said: “I have tried to think of how to describe this offending, Mr Bryan, and I am going to use a word I don’t think I have ever used before as a judge. This offending was wicked.

“Acting as a sexual predator you have caused untold damage to these two victims and your attitude in your pre-sentence report is astonishing. In the case of the first victim, all of your blame is on her and you think you are the victim in this. You present a huge risk to any young girl.”

Catherine Picardo, prosecuting, said the two victims were sexually abused by Byan years apart. She said the first one was given alcohol and cannabis and was abused by him at a house and in his car. She said: “He would take her out in his car and buy her a Burger King.” The prosecutor said the second one was also sexually abused by the defendant when she was a young teen and “felt frozen and scared” when it happened.

The first victim, now an adult, read her own impact statement to the court. In it she said: “He targeted me because of my vulnerability and gave me drugs and alcohol in return for sex. I had a lot of troubles in my life and this left me isolated and vulnerable with depression , low self-esteem and low self-worth. The run up to the trial was extremely traumatic, I was made feel like it was me who was on trial.”

And the prosecutor read out a statement made by the second victim, who is still a child. In hers, she said: “What he did was wrong and I don’t really know how I feel about it. I felt partly responsible because I allowed it to happen.

“The whole case was very upsetting and I struggled to study at school and have flashbacks in the classroom. I am going to counselling to try and help me move forward.”

The defendant, of Ashleigh Road, Barlborough, Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and causing or inciting a child to watch a sexual act.

Gregor Purcell, mitigating, said his client pleaded guilty to the charges, albeit on the third day of the trial for one of the victims. He said: “He is 67 years old and he will receive a sentence which may well exceed the life he still has to live. He is someone who deserves a lengthy sentence, he knows that, and that this will deprive him of the best part of the rest of his life.”

Bryan’s 20-year term is made up of 14 years custody plus a six-year extended licence for dangerousness. It means he will not be eligible to apply for parole until two-thirds of the way through the jail element.

As well as the jail term, the judge handed Bryan a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and placed him on the sex offender register for life.