GRAHAM HALSALL FROM BROTTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN TEESSIDE

In June 2017, a distressing case unfolded involving a young girl who bravely fought off a serial child sex offender using her teddy bear, a defense that played a part in securing his imprisonment for nearly seven years.

The perpetrator, Graham Halsall, aged 49 and residing in Brotton, was identified as a married security guard with a history of abusing multiple young girls. His victims ranged from very young children to those of primary school age, totaling four girls who suffered at his hands.

Halsall’s heinous actions came to light after one of the young victims confided in her mother about her ordeal. The girl recounted how she had tried to defend herself by placing her teddy bear between herself and Halsall, attempting to ward off his advances. However, Halsall forcibly grabbed the teddy and threw it aside, continuing his assault.

Another girl used her doll during bath time to illustrate what Halsall had done to her, highlighting the trauma inflicted. One of the victims described Halsall’s behavior as unsettling, noting that he kissed her and that his breath smelled strongly of beer, adding a disturbing detail to the case.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds addressed the court, Teesside Crown Court, explaining that Halsall denied all allegations. The families of the victims decided against pursuing cross-examinations in a formal trial, citing the young age of the girls and their inability to face such proceedings.

It was revealed that the victims endured their suffering in silence until one girl confided in her husband. Her husband then persuaded her to report the abuse to the police last year, which ultimately led to Halsall’s arrest and prosecution.

In her victim impact statement, one girl expressed the lasting effects of Halsall’s abuse, stating, “My husband eventually made me realize that I was not being fair to myself and my daughter.”

Another victim shared her ongoing emotional struggles, saying, “I think about what he did to me every day and I always wonder if I would be a different person if it had not happened to me. I lost all my confidence and started having panic attacks. I have in the past suffered with self-harming, and I never felt safe anywhere.”

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, emphasized the devastating impact Halsall’s actions had on the young girls. He acknowledged Halsall’s guilty pleas, which spared the victims from having to testify in court, and noted Halsall’s awareness of his own issues and difficulties.

Halsall, of Skelton Road, Brotton, was sentenced to six years and ten months in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offender’s register for life and issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from working with girls under the age of 16. These measures followed his plea of guilty to four charges of sexual assault involving four young girls, marking a significant step in justice for the victims.