DEAN BROADBENT FROM KEIGHLEY JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGE GIRL IN BRADFORD

In October 2008, a serious criminal case unfolded involving Dean Broadbent, a former mental health worker from Keighley, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. The incident took place in Bradford, where Broadbent was tried and subsequently sentenced to nine months in prison. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about the assault and the subsequent impact on the victim.

Judge Robert Bartfield presided over the case and acknowledged that a custodial sentence was unavoidable given the gravity of the offense. However, he chose to reduce the sentence from what might have been more severe, citing the significant emotional and psychological toll that imprisonment would impose on Broadbent’s life and employment prospects. The judge emphasized the importance of balancing justice with the potential consequences for the offender.

Broadbent, aged 27 at the time, had denied any wrongdoing, maintaining his innocence throughout the five-day trial held at Bradford Crown Court. Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of the charges after considering the evidence presented. The court heard that the victim, a teenage girl whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, had been deeply affected by the assault. She reported suffering from nightmares and flashbacks for several months following the incident, which occurred in August of the previous year.

The victim’s personal statement painted a harrowing picture of her emotional state post-attack. She explained that she had to pause her college studies due to the trauma and had become increasingly withdrawn and introverted. Her account detailed how Broadbent, during a moment when she was asleep in an armchair, began touching her inappropriately. She described how he started by touching her bottom and then moved to her legs over her jeans.

According to court testimony, Broadbent, who was married and had no prior criminal record, then escalated his assault by putting his hand down her top and touching her breast. The victim, frightened and overwhelmed, feigned sleep during the assault to avoid further harm. The court noted her fear and distress during this time. The situation worsened when Broadbent forcibly took her hand and used it to perform a sex act on himself, further violating her trust and personal boundaries.

During the trial, Broadbent’s defense lawyer, Jeremy Lindsay, described the incident as “an aberration,” and it was revealed that Broadbent had been drinking alcohol on the night of the assault. Broadbent, who resides on North Dean Avenue in Keighley, maintained that he had committed no such acts, asserting his innocence. The judge, however, pointed out that Broadbent’s claims lacked credibility, especially given the evidence and the demeanor of the victim during the proceedings.

Judge Bartfield expressed disappointment that Broadbent did not admit guilt, noting that his failure to do so deprived the court of the opportunity for a more lenient sentence. The judge also observed that the victim appeared visibly distressed when giving her testimony, underscoring the emotional damage caused by the assault.

Despite his position as a trusted individual in the healthcare sector, with a reputation for empathy and professionalism, the judge concluded that Broadbent’s actions were driven by inappropriate desires. The court’s findings indicated that he viewed the young girl as a target, taking advantage of her vulnerability when the opportunity arose.

As part of his sentence, Broadbent will be required to register as a sex offender for ten years following his release from prison. Additionally, the court imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which will restrict his contact with individuals under the age of 18 in the future, aiming to prevent any further harm and protect potential victims.