BRIDGWATER MAN JAILED FOR DECADE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF UNDERAGE GIRLS
The court sentenced Bernard Farrell, who is 28 years old and from West Street, to ten and a half years in prison for historical sexual abuse involving three girls under the age of 18.Farrell was found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences, including raping one girl and engaging in sexual acts with others, during his teenage years.
The court was told that Farrell used "hush sweets" as a means to silence his young victims.
Judge Julian Lambert described the case as particularly unusual, stressing the severity of the offences committed when Farrell was quite young.
He acknowledged Farrell’s potential for change, noting his demonstrable efforts to develop positive change.
Farrell was also governed by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order aimed at preventing future offences; this order restricts him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and from accessing the internet freely.
He is required to register as a sex offender on an ongoing basis.
Prosecutors detailed that Farrell raped one girl, touched them intimately, coerced them into touching him, and took photographs of the abuse.
The victims reported feelings of manipulation and trauma; one explained how the abuse motivated her to support others, while another described suffering from anxiety and nightmares.
Farrell’s legal representatives acknowledged he was a juvenile at the time of the offences and accepted the charge related to raping a girl under 13, citing evidence of violence or threats during the incidents.
Authorities commended the victims’ bravery and expressed that the sentence might encourage others to report abuse.
This case emphasizes the importance of delivering justice to crime victims and preventing future harm.
