BRIAN STURLEY, SWANSEA SEXUAL PREDATOR, SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR DECADES OF ABUSE

In October 2012, Brian Sturley, a 56-year-old man from Robert Street, Manselton, Swansea, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of 22 sexual offences spanning from the 1980s. The offences, which included rape, indecent assault, and indecency with a child, involved six different victims. During the sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Christopher Vosper remarked that Sturley knew what he was doing to his victims but 'simply did not care.' The judge also noted that the defendant 'showed no sympathy or empathy' towards those he had preyed upon. Sturley appeared via video link in court, visibly distressed and tearful, clutching his head and rocking as the sentence was read. He had previously denied all charges, which dated back several decades, until the jury's verdicts. The court revealed that although most victims kept their experiences secret, the 'floodgates opened' in spring 2011 when one victim came forward. The courtroom heard that Sturley's abuse began early, with his youngest victim, under 10 at the time, being forced to perform a sex act in a car between 2001 and 2002. His initial offending, however, dates back to 1985 when he moved to Swansea from London. His first known victim, aged between 12 and 15, was manipulated with alcohol and raped at his home, with the assault reportedly reenacting a scene from a pornographic film he compelled her to watch. Over time, his victims ranged from teenagers to younger children, with one girl being raped approximately ten times. Another girl, also a teenager, was sexually assaulted, and a different victim was raped in 2009, with Sturley allegedly telling her, 'I told you that you would pay.' In mitigation, Sturley's defense lawyer, Ian Wright, presented evidence that his client had suffered a stroke and was dealing with issues including mobility problems, memory loss, depression, and anxiety. Concerns about his health also encompassed diabetes and bronchial asthma. Despite this, Wright noted that Sturley still had the support of his children, though his long-standing marriage was described as being under threat. Throughout the trial, Sturley claimed that a conspiracy was underway against him and accused his victims of seeking compensation. During his defense, he told the jury, 'I think they’re all lying. It’s all lies what has been said here. It never happened. None of it.' Prosecutor James Jenkins labeled Sturley a 'sexual predator' who 'groomed' his victims, emphasizing the defendant's persistence over decades. After over eight hours of deliberation on September 25, the jury of eleven returned majority guilty verdicts on 22 charges. The verdict deeply affected family members in the courtroom, many of whom were brought to tears. Sturley was acquitted of four other charges, with the judge ordering not guilty verdicts on two counts of indecent assault with a child—one from August 1983 to August 1984 and another from August 1988 to 1989—both involving the same victim. The court also cleared him of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing or inciting the same child to do so. Judge Vosper stated that Sturley would face a prison sentence when sentenced at a later date and ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service, clarifying that this report could influence the sentence length but not its type. Sturley's lawyer requested additional time to submit medical evidence regarding his client's health, specifically his stroke, with the judge approving an adjournment for this purpose. Throughout the proceedings, Sturley maintained his innocence, claiming that a campaign was orchestrated against him and insisting that his victims sought compensation. The case highlighted the extent of his criminal career, with Prosecutor Jenkins describing him as having 'an extraordinary career' of persistent misconduct over many years, during which he continually moved from one young girl to another.