JAMES RICHARDS OF BODYMOOR HEATH SENTENCED FOR ABUSE OF TEENAGE STABLE GIRL

In December 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving James Richards, a wealthy horse owner from Bodymoor Heath in North Warwickshire, who was convicted of abusing a 15-year-old girl working at his stables. Richards, aged 61 at the time, exploited his position of authority and trust to prey on the young girl, who was passionate about horses and had been invited to work at Dunton Stables during the summer of 2000 due to her family's financial difficulties.

Richards's grooming behavior began early in the girl's employment, which he used as an opportunity to develop a manipulative relationship. The court heard that Richards would frequently give her lifts home after their workdays, during which he engaged in inappropriate physical contact. On one particularly alarming occasion, he persuaded her to perform a sexual act on him while he was towing a horsebox along a motorway, an act that demonstrated a blatant disregard for her safety and well-being.

Throughout the summer, Richards's misconduct escalated. He would often kiss her on a daily basis and, on some occasions, stroked her body and touched her breasts over her clothing. These acts of indecency were committed under the guise of casual lifts and seemingly innocent gestures, but they were part of a pattern of grooming and significant sexual abuse.

The young girl, after many years, finally disclosed the abuse in 2016 following counseling sessions. Her revelations led to police investigations, during which Richards initially denied any sexual contact with her. However, in subsequent interviews, he admitted to the misconduct, attributing it to an infatuation and acknowledging that he was aware of her age at the time.

Richards faced multiple charges, including four counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child. His actions were judged to be a serious breach of trust and a clear case of grooming, with the court emphasizing the significant disparity in age and the calculated nature of his abuse.

At Warwick Crown Court, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC sentenced Richards to two and a half years in prison on Tuesday, December 18. In his sentencing remarks, the judge described the abuse as 'significant sexual abuse of a young girl across the summer by a man more than double her age.' He highlighted the lasting impact on the victim, stating, 'She cannot make it go away – therapy has allowed her to bring this matter out.' The judge also noted that Richards's actions involved planning and grooming, underscoring the gravity of his misconduct and the breach of moral and legal boundaries.