BRIAN AUSTIN FROM READING SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST TEENAGE GIRLS

In February 2013, Brian Austin, a 59-year-old man from Kingsley Close, Whitley Wood, Reading, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offences involving teenage girls. The offences, which occurred between 1999 and 2005, included two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, two counts of indecent assault, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual activity with a child.

The court heard that Austin manipulated four female victims, all from the Reading area and aged 14 or 15 at the time of the assaults. Det Con Danny Bowles explained that Austin, who has a false leg, used deception by offering money to the girls under the pretense of having "pretend sex." He expressed hope that the sentencing would encourage other victims to come forward.

Judge Peter Ross delivered the sentence after the jury found Austin guilty of all charges. Austin had targeted these vulnerable girls, some of whom were from troubled or broken homes, making them more susceptible to his manipulation, as Det Con Bowles stated: “He befriended them. They have maybe come from a broken home and not from loving families – the vulnerability of the girls was key.”

The case was notably strengthened by the fact that two victims came forward independently after seeing Austin’s name linked to another incident in the press. All four victims, who had not known each other, provided consistent accounts of the sexual offences, including the detail that Austin removed his false leg beforehand. One victim recounted that Austin’s proposal involved pretending to have sex with her while a friend of his, named Bob, watched through the window in exchange for money and gifts.

The allegations first emerged during a trial that began on November 20, 2012. Prosecutor Allison Hunter highlighted that the four victims described similar sequences of events, lending credibility to their testimonies. During the trial, one victim detailed her experience of being invited to Austin’s bungalow, where he pretended to have a telephone conversation with a man named Bob before propositioning her. She revealed that Austin encouraged her to pretend to be his wife to receive money and gifts. She also recounted that Austin, who had lost his leg in a motorbike accident, took off his false leg, stripped, and then engaged in sexual acts with her. Shocked and unable to respond, she said she froze during the abuse.

Another victim described a similar scenario during a driving lesson with Austin, where he mentioned a friend and the possibility of making money by pretending to have sex while being watched through a window. She confirmed that after being raped, Austin, silent and nonchalant, simply reattached his false leg and dressed.

Throughout the trial, Austin was on conditional bail but remained in custody until his sentencing hearing scheduled on February 22, 2013. Detective Bowles emphasized that Austin targeted girls because of their vulnerability and that their detailed, consistent testimonies played a crucial role in securing the conviction.