BRIAN MCMAHON'S DEVONPORT SEX OFFENSES: NEARLY 40 YEARS LATER, PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR HORRIFIC ABUSE IN PLYMOUTH

In a case that has spanned nearly four decades, Brian McMahon, a man from Devonport, has finally been brought to justice for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against young girls in Plymouth. The lengthy delay in his sentencing underscores the complexities and challenges often faced in bringing such offenders to account.

McMahon, now aged 61, first began his disturbing pattern of abuse when he was just 23 years old. Starting in 1971, he targeted vulnerable young girls in Plymouth, a city known for its maritime history and close-knit communities. Over the course of approximately 13 years, until 1984, he engaged in repeated acts of sexual assault against at least five girls, whose ages ranged from 10 to 15 at the time of their victimization.

One of the victims recounted her experience, describing McMahon as being “calm, unflustered and in control” during the abuse, a chilling testament to his manipulative skills. Another girl expressed her fear, stating she was “instantly in fear” whenever she was left alone with him, highlighting the psychological trauma inflicted upon her. These testimonies, along with others, painted a disturbing picture of a man who used his grooming skills to gain the trust of his victims before exploiting that trust for his own gratification.

McMahon, who resided on St Leo Place in Devonport, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault during a previous hearing at Plymouth Crown Court. His admissions included assaulting one girl when she was 10 and 11 years old, and similarly, a second girl at the same ages. He also admitted to six sexual assaults on a third girl, aged between nine and 14. Additionally, he confessed to assaulting a fourth girl when she was 15, and to two sex attacks on a fifth girl, who was under 14 at the time. Despite these admissions, McMahon denied five other charges related to sexual assaults on four of the victims, leading to a complex legal situation.

Throughout the court proceedings, several of the victims, now women in middle age, were visibly emotional, some weeping in the public gallery as prosecutor Nick Lewin detailed the extent of the abuse and the impact it had on their lives. The prosecutor emphasized the long-lasting trauma inflicted by McMahon’s actions, which spanned over a decade.

Representing McMahon, barrister Paul Rowsall acknowledged his client’s remorse, citing his early guilty pleas as a way to spare the victims the ordeal of testifying in court. He also pointed out that McMahon had no prior convictions, cautions, or warnings, and expressed that his client was deeply ashamed of his conduct. It was noted that McMahon had ceased his abusive behavior in 1984 when he moved in with his current partner, who was present in court and stood by him during the proceedings.

However, Judge Francis Gilbert QC was less sympathetic. He described the offenses as “terrible” and referenced a report from the Probation Service which suggested that McMahon’s remorse appeared superficial. The judge also highlighted McMahon’s sophisticated grooming skills, indicating a calculated and manipulative approach to his crimes. McMahon denied any recollection of the offenses, but Judge Gilbert made it clear that his actions represented a “gross breach of power.”

Ultimately, McMahon was sentenced to seven years in prison and was ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely. Throughout the hearing, he sat impassively, showing little emotion. A spokeswoman for the victims later expressed their satisfaction with the sentence, stating, “We are all satisfied with the sentence.” She added, “This has torn us apart emotionally and brought back painful memories. McMahon is not remorseful; he doesn’t know what remorse means. For the last 40 years, he thought he had got away with it. This sentence doesn’t change what has happened to us, how it has affected us, the years of keeping our dirty little secrets.”

The victims also issued a plea for others who may have been harmed by McMahon to come forward, emphasizing that they believe there are additional victims out there who have yet to speak out and seek justice. Their courage in sharing their stories underscores the ongoing impact of these crimes and the importance of addressing such offenses, regardless of how much time has passed.