ANDREW WRIGHT FROM PARK BARN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND ANIMAL ABUSE IN GUILDFORD
| Red Rose Database
Park Barn Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Park Barn and the surrounding areas, Andrew Wright, a 57-year-old resident of Foxborrows Avenue, was sentenced this week at Guildford Crown Court for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young girls and the possession of extreme indecent images of children and animals.
Wright faced multiple serious charges, including three counts of sexual assault on children under the age of 13. The court was informed that he had stored thousands of pornographic images on his computer, with a significant number depicting the most severe forms of child exploitation, as well as inappropriate images involving animals. The evidence presented revealed that among the over 4,000 images and videos found on his hard drive, more than 100 were of the most serious nature, involving both children and animals, including some of his own pets.
The case was particularly disturbing due to the nature of the abuse and the manipulation involved. One of Wright’s victims was assaulted in March of this year, and following his arrest on Wednesday, March 19, a second victim came forward, revealing that she had been abused by him two years prior. The court heard that Wright had used his pets to lure one of the young girls into his flat’s bedroom on two consecutive days during which the abuse occurred. On both occasions, the girl was allowed to play with a dog kept in the room, and Wright would sit beside her on the bed, initiating physical contact under the guise of a hug before the abuse began.
The second victim recounted that Wright had touched her inappropriately two years earlier, but she was too frightened to report the incident at the time. It was only after another girl came forward that she felt able to disclose her own experience. The court was told that Wright’s actions caused significant and lasting harm to his victims, both physically and mentally, with the judge emphasizing the long-term impact of such abuse.
Judge Robert Fraser addressed Wright directly during the sentencing, condemning his breach of trust and the damage inflicted upon the young victims. He stated, “This was a gross breach of trust and you caused enormous damage to these girls to fulfill your own sexual needs. Not only was there a physical impact and harm but also, of course, long-term mental impact too. It does not seem to me to be a coincidence that both girls were of a similar age and it is very clear you have had a sexual interest in young children and animals for some years. It caused a great deal of damage to the girls who have got to live on and find a way of coping in the future.”
Following his arrest in March, authorities confiscated Wright’s laptop, which contained a vast collection of indecent images. Further investigations led to his re-arrest on July 30, when additional evidence was uncovered. The police found that among the images stored on his device, there were over 600 indecent images of children, including very young children, and videos involving sexual acts with animals, some of which were his own pets. The court was told that Wright’s possession of these images was of the most serious kind, and he had also engaged in acts of abuse himself.
In light of his guilty plea, Wright was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with the court deciding that he would serve half of this sentence in custody. His defense lawyer, Michael Hillman, expressed remorse on his behalf, stating that Wright was genuinely sorry for his actions. Hillman explained, “He pleaded guilty at the earliest stage possible and would have done so if possible at the plea and case management hearing on Monday July 14 had the other investigations not been ongoing. He is sorry for what he has done and what he has put these victims through. He does not know why he has a fascination with animals and children, and he is ashamed. He has also accepted that he requires help and hopes to complete a sexual offenders’ treatment programme.”
This case has left a lasting scar on the community of Park Barn, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need for ongoing support for victims of such disturbing crimes.
Wright faced multiple serious charges, including three counts of sexual assault on children under the age of 13. The court was informed that he had stored thousands of pornographic images on his computer, with a significant number depicting the most severe forms of child exploitation, as well as inappropriate images involving animals. The evidence presented revealed that among the over 4,000 images and videos found on his hard drive, more than 100 were of the most serious nature, involving both children and animals, including some of his own pets.
The case was particularly disturbing due to the nature of the abuse and the manipulation involved. One of Wright’s victims was assaulted in March of this year, and following his arrest on Wednesday, March 19, a second victim came forward, revealing that she had been abused by him two years prior. The court heard that Wright had used his pets to lure one of the young girls into his flat’s bedroom on two consecutive days during which the abuse occurred. On both occasions, the girl was allowed to play with a dog kept in the room, and Wright would sit beside her on the bed, initiating physical contact under the guise of a hug before the abuse began.
The second victim recounted that Wright had touched her inappropriately two years earlier, but she was too frightened to report the incident at the time. It was only after another girl came forward that she felt able to disclose her own experience. The court was told that Wright’s actions caused significant and lasting harm to his victims, both physically and mentally, with the judge emphasizing the long-term impact of such abuse.
Judge Robert Fraser addressed Wright directly during the sentencing, condemning his breach of trust and the damage inflicted upon the young victims. He stated, “This was a gross breach of trust and you caused enormous damage to these girls to fulfill your own sexual needs. Not only was there a physical impact and harm but also, of course, long-term mental impact too. It does not seem to me to be a coincidence that both girls were of a similar age and it is very clear you have had a sexual interest in young children and animals for some years. It caused a great deal of damage to the girls who have got to live on and find a way of coping in the future.”
Following his arrest in March, authorities confiscated Wright’s laptop, which contained a vast collection of indecent images. Further investigations led to his re-arrest on July 30, when additional evidence was uncovered. The police found that among the images stored on his device, there were over 600 indecent images of children, including very young children, and videos involving sexual acts with animals, some of which were his own pets. The court was told that Wright’s possession of these images was of the most serious kind, and he had also engaged in acts of abuse himself.
In light of his guilty plea, Wright was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with the court deciding that he would serve half of this sentence in custody. His defense lawyer, Michael Hillman, expressed remorse on his behalf, stating that Wright was genuinely sorry for his actions. Hillman explained, “He pleaded guilty at the earliest stage possible and would have done so if possible at the plea and case management hearing on Monday July 14 had the other investigations not been ongoing. He is sorry for what he has done and what he has put these victims through. He does not know why he has a fascination with animals and children, and he is ashamed. He has also accepted that he requires help and hopes to complete a sexual offenders’ treatment programme.”
This case has left a lasting scar on the community of Park Barn, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need for ongoing support for victims of such disturbing crimes.