BRANDON MULLIN SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN
A teenager took advantage of his mother’s neglect to sexually abuse two of her vulnerable children.Brandon Mullin exploited the weaknesses of the family, and a judge described the victims siblings as those who suffered from the worst neglect he had ever seen.
His abusive actions only came to an end when the children were removed into care.
Mullin, now aged 19, was found guilty of 10 sexual offences against the two children after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
The offences included the rape of a boy and the sexual abuse of a girl.
Although Mullin was a child himself at the time, Judge Garrett Byrne stated, "I am satisfied you knew perfectly well what you were doing was wrong." During sentencing on Monday morning, Judge Byrne characterised Mullin as a "cold and calculated individual" who showed no regard for the harm inflicted on his victims and demonstrated no remorse for his wicked deeds.
The judge highlighted the profound impact of Mullin’s crimes, saying, "The harm you have caused these children is incalculable.
You have caused them physical, emotional and developmental harm.
The harm will last the rest of their lives." Classifying Mullin as a dangerous offender, the judge sentenced him to 13 years in a young offender institution, with an extended license of three additional years.
This means Mullin will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Once released, he will face strict conditions for the duration of the sentence plus an extra three years.
Additionally, Mullin was handed a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.
Ian Whitehurst, Mullin’s defence attorney, told the court that Mullin was a "vulnerable and immature individual" at the time of the offences, with "no structure in his life whatsoever." He noted that Mullin had shown "a marked improvement" since being in custody and was engaging with rehabilitation services.
The court also considered the background that enabled Mullin to abuse the children.
The victims, part of a large family, had been raised in an unstable, filthy environment lacking adequate food, clothing, hygiene, medical care, or affection.
Judge Byrne described their home as unsafe, with many strangers coming and going.
The children’s mother, who cannot be named in order to protect their identities, admitted to five counts of neglect concerning each child, from birth until her children were taken into care.
She maintained that she was unaware of the sexual abuse and not involved, a claim accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Last month, the mother was sentenced to 12 years in jail for her neglect.
Judge Byrne commented that although she did not actively participate in the abuse, her neglect "led" to it, noting, "You were rarely there, choosing instead to prioritize your own needs over those of the children." He further stated, "Your neglect meant Mullin was given the opportunity to sexually abuse them.
If your basis of plea is you had no responsibility for that, then I reject it.
I acknowledge you didn’t know about the abuse, but if you had exercised greater control...
that abuse might not have occurred." Prosecutor David Polglase explained that multiple agencies had attempted to support the family.
However, a family support worker observed that the mother was "clever" at misleading authorities by giving false signals but failing to follow through on commitments.
The judge similarly noted her tendency to "pay lip service but fail to act." A turning point came when one of the mother’s young boys was found wandering the street barefoot in cold weather, wearing wet clothes and a wet nappy.
In a related police investigation, the mother also admitted to possessing drugs with intent to supply.
She was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Addressing Mullin’s sentencing, Judge Byrne expressed that the only positive aspect of the case was the fact that the children were now in the care of loving and caring foster parents.
