BRAIN JENKINS FROM STALMINE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN BRECON AND WORCESTER

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Brian Jenkins, a man with ties to Stalmine, has been sentenced to five years in prison for heinous acts of child sexual abuse. Jenkins, aged 75, was convicted of assaulting a young girl who was between 12 and 14 years old at the time, while she was part of his congregation in Brecon, Powys. The disturbing allegations date back to the 1970s, and Jenkins’s actions have left a lasting scar on his victim, now aged 58.

Jenkins, originally from Redditch, Worcestershire, faced a jury at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, where he was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of abuse that spanned several years, during which Jenkins exploited his position within the Jehovah’s Witness community to carry out his crimes. The judge overseeing the case described Jenkins’s conduct as marked by “breathtaking arrogance,” highlighting the egregious nature of his offenses.

The trial, which lasted three days, uncovered that Jenkins assaulted the girl on multiple occasions while he was engaged in missionary work, during Bible classes, and even at swimming lessons in Brecon. Evidence presented in court indicated that Jenkins sent her older brother to knock on doors at farms and rural properties, ostensibly to facilitate his missionary activities, while he committed his assaults in the back seat of his car. The victim recounted her experiences, revealing that she confided in two other elders, a doctor, and an ex-police officer, but was met with indifference, as they merely “grinned” and did not take action to protect her.

During her testimony, the woman expressed her frustration and anger towards the Jehovah’s Witness elders and the governing body, criticizing their lack of safeguarding measures. She stated, “There is no safeguarding. They do not report it to the authorities because they want to deal with it in house.” Her words conveyed the deep sense of fear and shame she felt during those traumatic years, describing herself as “terrified,” and recalling that she was too young, ashamed, and lacked the words to defend herself at the time.

Jenkins, who claimed that the girl fabricated the allegations out of spite against the Jehovah’s Witness religion, portrayed himself in court as “a helpful bloke who wanted to teach young people to swim.” However, the court was not convinced by his defense. It was revealed that Jenkins had a prior conviction in 1991, when he was jailed for 21 months at Worcester Crown Court for a series of similar sex offenses.

The jury, after just one hour of deliberation, returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all six charges. Judge Daniel Williams sentenced Jenkins to five years in prison and ordered that he register as a sex offender for life. In his remarks, the judge emphasized that despite the passage of more than four decades, the victim continues to bear the emotional and psychological consequences of Jenkins’s actions every day. The case underscores the importance of safeguarding children and holding offenders accountable, regardless of how much time has passed since the crimes occurred.