GORDON OLIVER FROM BRADFORD AND WILSDEN JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN CARE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Bradford and Wilsden, Gordon Oliver, a former social worker and supervisor, has been sentenced to five years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of vulnerable children under his care.

Oliver's long history of misconduct spans over 25 years, beginning during his tenure as a team leader at the now-defunct Springfield Children’s Home, located near Bradford Royal Infirmary. The court heard that during this period, he exploited the trust placed in him by the children and their families, engaging in repeated acts of sexual assault and misconduct.

The offences committed by Oliver came to light after he pleaded guilty to ten counts of sexual assault involving two girls and three boys aged between 11 and 15. Additionally, he admitted to possessing 19 indecent photographs of children. His criminal activities primarily took place in Bradford, where he worked for the local authority’s children’s services team, but his misconduct extended beyond the city to other locations, including Sunderland and Brighton.

At an earlier hearing, the court was informed that Oliver began his employment at the Springfield Children’s Home in 1977. The facility was a large assessment centre that housed many vulnerable children, often those who had been removed from abusive or neglectful homes. His first known victim was a 14-year-old girl sent to the home because her father was violent towards her. Oliver began abusing her sexually, engaging in intercourse with her both at the home and at a cottage in Wilsden. It was revealed that he took indecent photographs of her and even slept with her. Staff at the home reportedly caught Oliver in the act of having sex with her, but the abuse continued, as the girl reportedly developed a crush on him, which he exploited.

His next victim was a 15-year-old girl who had been subjected to sexual assault by her stepfather. She had attempted to take her own life, highlighting the severity of her trauma. Oliver also abused an 11-year-old boy who had recently lost his mother in a tragic car accident. The court detailed how Oliver bought the boy expensive clothes, gave him a Rolex watch, and provided money, but also engaged in disturbing acts of indecency. Every night for three years, Oliver would wash the boy and touch him inappropriately, despite the boy’s evident embarrassment. The abuse extended to a camping trip, where Oliver sexually assaulted the boy in his tent.

Following the closure of the Springfield Home, Oliver moved to Sunderland to undergo training before returning to Bradford in 1990 to work with the foster care department. His misconduct persisted, as he was assigned to a 13-year-old boy in 1991. Court documents described Oliver’s unprofessional and indecent conduct, including allowing the boy to drive and touching him inappropriately while at the wheel. He also took photographs of the boy in swimming trunks. When the boy’s mother became suspicious of Oliver’s inappropriate attention, he was removed from the case.

Oliver later worked as a social worker in Brighton, where he was warned explicitly not to have direct contact with children or take them swimming. Despite these warnings, he took a 12-year-old boy kayaking, spent money on him, and engaged in indecent touching during swimming sessions. The boy’s mother tragically died, and Oliver was involved in breaking the news and providing counselling, but concerns about his behaviour persisted. The boy’s grandmother reported that he had been touched indecently, leading to police investigations. Police found indecent photographs of children on Oliver’s computer at his Brighton residence.

During the court proceedings, Oliver’s barrister, Denis Bradley, acknowledged that he had abused his position of trust over a prolonged period. Judge Scott Wolstenholme condemned his actions as a gross breach of trust and ordered that Oliver be registered as a sex offender for life. The judge also praised Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jeffrey for his diligent work in bringing the case to justice.

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jeffrey expressed hope that Oliver’s victims could begin to move forward with their lives. He emphasized the shock and disgust felt by police officers involved in the case, given the extent of the offending. Bradford Council’s head of children’s services, Richard Bates, announced that an independent inquiry was underway to review past and present employment and management procedures, aiming to ensure that such abuse cannot occur again and that children are protected under improved safeguarding measures.