BRIAN GILLAM'S REIGN OF TERROR IN BROMSGROVE AND PLYMOUTH: EX-CARE HOME HEAD JAILED FOR RAPE AND ABUSE

In a harrowing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Bromsgrove and Plymouth, Brian Gillam, a former care home supervisor, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against vulnerable young girls under his care. The disturbing revelations emerged during a lengthy trial at Worcester Crown Court, where Gillam, aged 62, was found guilty of multiple counts of rape, indecent assault, and indecency with a minor.

Gillam's criminal activities spanned nearly a decade, from 1974 to 1983, during which he was employed at Uplands Children’s Home, located near Bromsgrove. The court heard that the abuse was systematic and brutal, targeting girls aged between 12 and 15 years old. The victims, whose identities remain protected, endured assaults in various locations within the care home grounds, including a bungalow where Gillam resided with his first wife and two sons, as well as in the home's office, dormitories, the TV room, and even in public spaces such as Bromsgrove’s swimming baths.

One of the most distressing testimonies came from a woman now aged 41, who recounted how Gillam, of Churchfields, Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, twice impregnated her and paid for her to have two abortions. She described intimate encounters that took place in settings like the Lickey Hills after playing hide-and-seek among the ferns, as well as during a camping trip to Cornwall and in a caravan. Gillam, who was married three times and is partially blind in one eye, later allowed her to live at his bungalow, but her complaints about his behavior led to her demotion within the care system.

Throughout the trial, Gillam denied the allegations, claiming that the victims fabricated their stories in an attempt to secure compensation. Despite his denials, the evidence presented was overwhelming, and the court was told that the abuse inflicted upon these young girls was both vile and calculated. Judge Michael Mott sentenced Gillam to 12 years in prison, emphasizing the severity of his crimes. In his remarks, the judge stated, “You clearly had a sexual predilection for young girls and on occasions indulged it at the expense of these five young girls.”

The judge also criticized the failings of the care system and social services at the time, highlighting that staff members at the home and Birmingham-based social services staff had failed to act on reports of misconduct. “It is impossible to believe some members of staff didn’t realize to some degree what was happening,” he added. Gillam’s arrest in September 2002 followed a police investigation into historic allegations of sexual abuse at children’s homes across Worcestershire and Shropshire. Over 20 months, West Mercia Police assigned 19 officers to gather evidence, collecting approximately 150 statements from witnesses and victims.

Gillam’s claims that the victims had fabricated their stories to gain compensation were dismissed, and he was ultimately convicted of multiple charges, including four counts of rape, five of indecent assault, and one of indecency with a girl under 14. He was acquitted of one count of rape and two counts of indecent assault.

In a related and deeply emotional account, Sue Smith, a grandmother from Walsall, spoke publicly for the first time about her daughter Anne’s tragic experience. Anne, who was placed in care at just 13 years old in 1976, became one of Gillam’s victims. Sue described how her daughter repeatedly tried to alert social workers to the abuse but was dismissed and labeled a troublemaker. “My daughter tried to turn whistle-blower on lots of occasions but social services never wanted to know,” Sue said, her voice trembling. “To them she was nothing but a bad girl who told lies to get her own way. But all she was doing was trying to save her own life.”

Sadly, Anne’s life was profoundly affected by the abuse. She later fell into petty crime and prostitution, becoming estranged from her mother. Sue expressed her belief that her daughter could have been saved if social services had taken her claims seriously. “The only people with the power to investigate what was happening were social services, yet they didn’t believe a word my girl told them,” she lamented. “My daughter eventually came home when she was 16, but the damage was done. The abuse destroyed her, and it has ruined her life ever since.”

Details of Anne’s suffering reveal that Gillam’s abuse extended beyond the care home. Sue recounted how her daughter was often made to wear her underwear or swimwear for days and was asked to rub Gillam down with baby oil. Gillam’s predatory behavior included taking certain girls to pubs or to a bungalow within the care home grounds for sexual encounters. Sue also described an incident where Gillam, visibly intoxicated, pulled up outside her house with Anne and a 15-year-old girl he later impregnated, claiming it was to discuss her progress but clearly intending to isolate them.

Eventually, Sue managed to rescue her daughter by hiding her in her home for six months when Anne was 16. However, the law only caught up with Gillam in September 2002, when police arrested him as part of a broader investigation into historic child abuse allegations across Worcestershire and Shropshire. The case has highlighted the tragic failures of the care and social services systems of that era, which failed to protect vulnerable children from predators like Gillam.

Both Sue and Anne’s identities have been changed to protect their privacy, but their stories serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and accountability in safeguarding children from abuse and neglect.