WIGAN BROTHERS ALAN AND THOMAS FOWLER SENTENCED FOR 17-YEAR CHILD SEX ABUSE SPREE
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Wigan, two brothers, Alan and Thomas Fowler, have been sentenced to a combined total of 46 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of 17 years.The lengthy period of abuse, which began in 1979 and continued until 1996, involved the victimization of four young girls, including the eldest who was just seven years old at the start of the ordeal.
During the trial at Bolton Crown Court, it was revealed that the victims endured a reign of terror that left deep scars.
One of the victims, now 45 years old and known by the pseudonym Jane to protect her identity, recounted the terrifying experiences she and her sisters faced.
She described how they would barricade themselves inside bedrooms in a desperate attempt to prevent the brothers from entering and carrying out their sickening acts.
Despite their efforts, the brothers would often break in and subject the girls to repeated sexual assaults and rapes.
Jane vividly recalled the horror of those dark times, sometimes being attacked in the same room as her sisters, even in the dark, where she could recognize the men's breathing.
She expressed her frustration at the lack of support from responsible adults and authorities at the time, stating that they had reported the abuse multiple times over the years, but no action was taken.
She criticized those who had protected the brothers or dismissed their claims, emphasizing that justice was long overdue.
It was only after Jane, now an adult, confided in someone from a fostering service four years ago that the case gained momentum.
This led to her being introduced to a police officer who believed her and her sisters' accounts.
The investigation that followed uncovered evidence that confirmed their stories.
Alan Fowler initially denied any involvement, claiming he had never touched anyone.
However, DNA testing revealed that he had fathered a child with Jane's sister when she was 18, directly linking him to the abuse.
Thomas Fowler also denied the allegations at first but was eventually convicted of multiple sex crimes.
The case was further strengthened by the testimonies of all three sisters and another victim, who collectively stood up against the brothers in court.
The defendants pleaded guilty to most of the charges, which spared the victims the trauma of a lengthy trial.
The impact of the abuse has been profound and lasting.
Jane attributes her depression, for which she is on medication, to the trauma she endured.
Her two other sisters, aged 44 and 39, have faced the heartbreaking loss of custody of their children, citing their inability to cope with the scars of their childhood.
All three women described their childhood as a nightmare that has haunted them into adulthood.
In sentencing, the court recognized the severity of the crimes, which included a total of 36 sex offenses.
The brothers received lengthy prison terms, but the victims expressed that their suffering continues beyond incarceration.
Jane remarked, “This finally gives us closure to a nightmare which began when I was just seven years old.
We will carry this pain with us forever.
They are disgusting, horrendous people, scum.
They should bring back the death penalty for crimes like this.
And they should rot in hell.”
