GRAHAM INGRAM OF REDDITCH SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST YOUNG GIRLS

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Redditch, Graham Ingram, a 70-year-old man residing on Ansley Close, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for a series of serious sexual offences committed against young girls. The sentencing took place at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, August 9, following a conviction on multiple charges.

Ingram was found guilty of eight counts that included indecent assault, rape, and gross indecency. These convictions stem from a trial held earlier in July, where the evidence presented painted a disturbing picture of his actions over several years. The judge, Daniel Pearce-Higgins, handed down a 10-year prison sentence, which he ordered to run concurrently with another 10-year term previously imposed in April of the previous year. That earlier sentence was for four charges of indecent assault, gross indecency, and rape, and included a court order for Ingram to remain on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Both victims in this case were known to Ingram, which added a layer of betrayal to the crimes. The first victim, who was approximately nine years old when the abuse began, was subjected to repeated sexual assaults by Ingram during the late 1970s. The assaults continued over a period, and he raped her multiple times between the ages of 12 and 14. The second victim, also around nine years old at the time, was targeted by Ingram in the late 1990s, roughly two decades after the first victim’s ordeal began. Her abuse was similarly initiated when she was a child, and the trauma inflicted upon her has had lasting effects.

Detective Constable Amjad Iqbal of West Mercia Police commented on the case, emphasizing the stark contrast between Ingram’s outward appearance and his hidden actions. “Ingram was outwardly a decent and respectable man, trustworthy, responsible, and a pillar of the community. However, behind closed doors, it was a very different matter, and he abused the trust placed in him in the worst way,” he stated.

He further explained that the first victim was systematically abused over a prolonged period, which compounded the trauma she endured. Both victims faced the additional ordeal of giving evidence during the court proceedings. Their bravery in coming forward and testifying has been instrumental in ensuring that Ingram faces justice and that other children are protected from potential future harm.

Detective Iqbal expressed concern that the crimes, which spanned many years, likely involved other children who may have been victims or witnesses. “We believe there are likely to be more victims, and we sincerely hope they take some comfort from the substantial sentences handed down by the court,” he added, highlighting the importance of community awareness and vigilance in preventing such abuse from recurring.