JOHN BRADBURN AND MELISSA GEDGE'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN FILEY AND SCARBOROUGH

In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the communities of Filey and Scarborough, a series of serious criminal offenses involving sexual misconduct and breaches of court orders have come to light. The case centers around Melissa Louise Kenyon, formerly known as Gedge, who has been repeatedly found in violation of court-imposed restrictions designed to protect children from harm.

In July 2020, Kenyon was sentenced to prison after her actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the strict conditions set by the court. She had been convicted of engaging in sexual activities in the presence of a child, a crime that led to her being placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and subject to an indefinite sexual-harm prevention order. Despite these legal restrictions, Kenyon was found to have breached her court orders multiple times, most notably by moving into a flat in Scarborough with a convicted sex offender, Kenyon’s former partner, John Bradburn.

The court heard that Kenyon had formed a relationship with Bradburn after her release from a three-year prison sentence for sex offenses. During her time on parole, she was explicitly prohibited from having any contact with children under 16 and was required to notify police of any change of address. However, she violated these conditions by allowing a young girl into the Scarborough flat and walking around the town center with her. Prosecutor Rob Galley detailed that Kenyon’s breaches included being with the girl when she was partially undressed, although no sexual contact was established. Furthermore, she failed to inform authorities that she was residing at the flat with Bradburn, who was later convicted of child sex offenses.

Police investigations revealed that Kenyon had been staying at the property with Bradburn between November 2019 and March 2020 without reporting this to the authorities. This period marked a significant change of address, which she was legally obliged to disclose. On May 19, police officers visited the flat and discovered several photographs on Kenyon’s phone depicting the young girl. While the images did not show indecent content and the child was fully clothed, the photographs also included Bradburn, who was on bail at the time, awaiting trial for further sex crimes involving a different young girl. Bradburn’s recent conviction for child rape related to another victim added to the gravity of the situation.

Kenyon admitted to staying with Bradburn three or four times a week over a span of approximately five months, during which the child had visited the property. She appeared via video link in court to plead guilty to two breaches of her sexual-harm prevention order and one count of failing to notify authorities of her change of residence. The court was also informed of her earlier criminal history, which included a 2016 conviction alongside Bradburn for engaging in sexual activity in front of a child at a property in Filey. Although no sexual assault occurred, the act was deemed highly inappropriate, with Bradburn reportedly deriving pleasure from performing in front of the child, and Kenyon being drawn into the acts.

Further allegations revealed that both Kenyon and Bradburn engaged in online conversations with others about their sexual deviance, including explicit chats on Skype and internet chatrooms. Gedge, aged 29 at the time, admitted to four counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, while Bradburn, aged 62, denied similar charges, including one count of sexual activity with the child. The alleged offenses spanned from July 2011 to the summer of 2014, with the case highlighting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

During the trial, prosecutor Geraldine Kelly emphasized that Bradburn and Gedge’s actions appeared to be deliberate and for sexual gratification. Kelly pointed out that Bradburn’s interest in the child was evident, although Bradburn claimed the child had only accidentally witnessed his encounters with Gedge on a few occasions. The investigation intensified when social services and police intervened after suspicions arose from the child’s teachers. A search of the Filey property on July 8, 2014, led to Bradburn’s arrest. In police interviews, Bradburn denied any wrongdoing but admitted to a three-year relationship with Gedge.

Judge Sean Morris expressed his strong disapproval of Kenyon’s conduct, stating he was “convinced” that her failure to report her living arrangements with a known child sex offender was motivated by her awareness of Bradburn’s bail status. The judge warned that her actions risked causing serious harm to a vulnerable child and demonstrated a complete disregard for the court’s prohibitions. Kenyon was sentenced to 30 months in prison, with half to be served behind bars before release on license. The sexual-harm prevention order remains in effect to continue safeguarding children from further harm.