BRIAN MOYNIHAN OF SILVERDALE SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS FOR REPEATED RAPE OF GIRL IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Silverdale and the wider Stoke-on-Trent area, Brian Moynihan, aged 66, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of multiple heinous sexual offenses against a young girl. The court proceedings revealed the extent of Moynihan’s depravity, as he was found guilty of 12 counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault, following a trial held in January at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

During the trial, the jury was informed that Moynihan’s victim, who was a child at the time of the abuse, endured a series of traumatic assaults at various locations. The court heard that Moynihan’s actions left her so deeply scarred that she attempted to take her own life in an effort to escape the pain. The prosecution, led by Peter Cooper, detailed how Moynihan’s pattern of abuse was disturbingly similar to two previous convictions for indecent assault from the 1970s, when he had forced young girls to lie down and remove their clothing before touching them. Although he served a prison sentence for one of those offenses, he was only given a probation order for the other, which allowed him to remain in the community.

It was revealed that Moynihan’s latest victim was subjected to molestation at multiple locations, with the court hearing that he would threaten her and sometimes physically beat her if she did not comply with his demands. The young girl was muffled as she cried out during the assaults, which included forced oral sex and stripping off her clothes. The court was shown evidence of Moynihan’s manipulative and controlling behavior, which aimed to silence and intimidate his victim.

Judge Paul Glenn, presiding over the case, sentenced Moynihan to 19 years in prison, with the sentence comprising 18 years of actual incarceration and an additional year on license. The judge emphasized that Moynihan would not be eligible for parole for at least nine years, and he would only be released earlier if the Parole Board deemed it appropriate. The judge also highlighted the severe impact of Moynihan’s actions, stating that he had left the girl “severely damaged” as a result of the sexual abuse. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Glenn quoted Moynihan’s threatening words to the victim, saying, “You told her not to tell anyone, or ‘if you do, you’ll pay’.”

In a poignant victim personal statement read aloud in court, the young woman described her ongoing struggles with the trauma inflicted upon her. She revealed that she began self-harming at an early age in an attempt to rid herself of the feelings of dirt and shame. Even years later, she continues to take repeated baths in a desperate effort to feel clean, and she often goes days without sleeping, eating, or drinking. She recounted the overwhelming nature of flashbacks, which constantly remind her of the abuse, and expressed her ongoing feelings of self-blame, questioning why she was targeted. She concluded by acknowledging that she may never find the answers she seeks.

Earlier in January 2021, Moynihan’s case had already garnered attention when he was convicted of these serious offenses. The court heard that Moynihan, of Chapel Street, Silverdale, had repeatedly molested the girl and muffled her cries during the assaults. The jury was told that she finally found the courage to report the abuse to the police many years later, after confiding in someone about what had happened. Prosecutor Peter Cooper described how Moynihan’s offenses followed a disturbing pattern, often involving threats and physical violence if the girl did not comply. Moynihan’s denial of all charges was rejected by the jury, who found him guilty of all counts.

Following the verdict, Moynihan’s defense lawyer, Paul Cliff, requested a pre-sentence report from a probation officer to better understand Moynihan’s personal circumstances. The judge agreed to this request and adjourned the sentencing to allow for further assessment. Despite acknowledging that a lengthy custodial sentence was inevitable, Judge Glenn emphasized the importance of considering Moynihan’s long absence from the courts and his personal background before finalizing the sentence. Moynihan has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register in anticipation of his sentencing hearing, underscoring the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.