DAVID MILLARD, BIRMINGHAM CHILD SEX OFFENDER, SENTENCED IN OXFORD COURT
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community, David Millard, a man with ties to Birmingham, was sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl over a span of 14 years.The court proceedings took place at Oxford Crown Court, where the victim courageously shared her painful story, shedding light on the manipulation and threats she endured at the hands of Millard.
According to her testimony, Millard, who was at the time a former employee of Cowley BMW, used intimidation tactics to silence her.
He threatened to kill her mother if she ever disclosed the abuse, instilling a deep sense of fear and guilt in the young girl.
She recounted, “He said he would kill my mum if I told anyone.
Then he would tell everyone it was my fault and they would all believe it was.” She explained that these threats, combined with the manipulation, led her to believe she was to blame for the abuse.
“If you are told that from a young age, you do believe it.
I did not want anyone knowing, I was made to feel I was in the wrong,” she said.
It was only after she stood in court and faced her abuser that she realized she was not at fault.
“When I stood up in front of the court it was when I realised it wasn’t my fault.
After the case I felt so relieved,” she added.
The trauma inflicted by Millard had long-lasting effects on her mental health.
She revealed that the abuse left her unable to leave her house alone and caused severe depression, which led to three suicide attempts.
She also disclosed that on one occasion, Millard subjected her to abuse as a form of “punishment” for something she did wrong.
“I just don’t feel anything towards him now, it is as if he doesn’t exist,” she said.
“He has robbed me of the whole of my childhood.
I can’t ever get that back.
I would have liked him to get a year for every year he has taken off me.” Her account included a particularly disturbing memory of Millard physically assaulting her, once grabbing her by the throat when she threatened to tell her mother.
“He once had me up the wall by my throat when I said I was going to tell my mum.
I used to cry and he would tell me I was silly,” she recalled.
It was only approximately two years ago that she confided in her mother about the abuse.
Her mother’s reaction was visibly one of anger and disgust.
“As soon as I told her, her face changed.
You could see she hated him,” she said.
David Millard, who is a former soldier originally from Birmingham, faced seven counts of indecent assault.
He denied the charges, but after a trial, the jury found him guilty of all seven counts last month.
There was, however, a charge of attempted rape that the jury could not reach a verdict on, and this charge will remain on the court’s record.
During the sentencing, Millard’s defense attorney, Adrian Amer, highlighted his client’s “exemplary” military record and emphasized that he had no previous convictions.
Despite this, Judge Julian Hall sentenced Millard to seven years in prison.
Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, prohibited from contacting his victim, and barred from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16.
The court also mandated that Millard could not possess pictures of children in his home without parental permission.
Sgt Katy Barrow-Grint of Thames Valley Police expressed her hope that the sentencing would allow the victim to begin the process of rebuilding her life.
“I hope the sentencing means she will be able to start to rebuild her life,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of justice in helping survivors recover from such traumatic experiences.
