GRAHAM PRICE FROM STOCKTON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN AFTER 40 YEARS
In a case that spanned over four decades, justice finally caught up with Graham Price, a man from Stockton who was convicted of sexually abusing three young children many years ago.The abuse, which occurred when the victims were as young as five years old, remained a secret for decades until they felt safe enough to come forward and report their ordeal, long after they had married and one of them had become a grandmother.
It was only in recent times that the victims, now adults, decided to break their silence and provide evidence against Price.
Prosecutor Christine Egerton told Teesside Crown Court that Price had inflicted severe physical and emotional harm on the children.
She detailed how he had used a cord to threaten one of the boys, wrapping it around his neck and threatening to kill him if he disclosed the abuse to anyone.
This act of intimidation was part of a pattern of ongoing misconduct that spanned several months, during which Price subjected the children to repeated sexual offenses.
During the trial, the victims recounted how Price had warned one girl not to tell anyone about what he was doing, warning her that she would get into trouble if she did.
The boy confided in his wife years later about the abuse he endured, while the third victim only disclosed her experiences to her husband in adulthood.
All three victims submitted impact statements to the court, describing how their lives had been profoundly affected and damaged by Price’s actions.
Despite having no previous criminal record, Price’s conduct was deemed extremely serious by the court.
Graham Price, now 58 years old, appeared at Teesside Crown Court to face justice.
The court heard that he admitted to two charges of indecent assault but was convicted of a total of nine offenses related to sexual misconduct against the children.
The judge, Judge Briggs, sentenced Price to seven years in prison on Friday.
In addition to the custodial sentence, Price was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16.
During the proceedings, Price’s defense lawyer, Rod Hunt, emphasized that his client had changed significantly since the time of the offenses.
Hunt stated that Price was now a different person, suffering from the trauma of his past actions, which had even led to a heart attack following his arrest.
Hunt described Price’s current state, noting that his daughter described him as a loving father, and that social services had previously checked his family with no cause for concern.
He added that Price was now on medication that required careful monitoring while in custody.
Judge Briggs acknowledged the gravity of the offenses, stating, “These matters all have their serious aspects.
You put a cord around the boy’s neck and threatened to kill him if he said anything to anyone about it.
No one will forget the effect it had on him at your trial.
There must obviously be a significant sentence.” The court’s decision reflected the severity of the crimes and the lasting impact on the victims, emphasizing the importance of holding offenders accountable regardless of how much time has passed since the offenses occurred.
