JOHN BRYANT AND DAVID TILSED SENTENCED FOR ABUSE IN POOLE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Poole, two men have been convicted and sentenced for heinous acts of child abuse involving an eight-year-old boy. The offences, which spanned several years, revealed a pattern of exploitation and cruelty that has left lasting scars on the victim.

John Bryant, aged 55, was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual misconduct against the young boy. Court proceedings disclosed that Bryant began grooming the child when he was just eight years old, gradually persuading him to engage in intimate acts. The abuse did not remain isolated; it escalated over time, with Bryant taking the boy to his neighbour’s residence in Poole, where the two men, Bryant and David Tilsed, committed serious sexual assaults on the child on at least two separate occasions.

When Bryant moved into Old Orchard in Poole, the situation worsened. He brought the boy to Tilsed’s home, where both men assaulted him sexually. The child, overwhelmed and frightened, eventually refused to visit that house again. Despite this, Bryant continued his abusive behavior until the boy reached his early teens, at which point he was physically capable of resisting him.

During the trial, the victim, who is now incarcerated, provided a harrowing statement through prosecutor Michael Tomlinson. The statement read, “The things that he did to me ruined my life.” The impact of the abuse was profound; the victim described how he was unable to complete his education, ended up living on the streets, and developed a criminal record alongside a drug addiction.

Bryant admitted to four counts of indecency and 14 counts of serious sexual offences. Tilsed, aged 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecency and two counts of serious sexual offences. Neither man had previous convictions, but their actions had devastating consequences.

Legal representatives highlighted different mitigating factors. Nigel Mitchell, representing Bryant, expressed little in the way of mitigation, emphasizing that Bryant was fortunate to be able to move past the incident while the victim suffered lifelong trauma. Conversely, Philippa Page, defending Tilsed, explained that her client had been drinking heavily following the death of his parents, whom he had cared for. She stated that Tilsed had little clear memory of the offences but expressed remorse and offered to pay the victim approximately £12,000 in compensation.

Judge John Harrow sentenced Bryant to a total of eight years in prison, with the stipulation that he would serve half of that sentence before being eligible for parole. Tilsed received a four-year sentence under similar terms. The judge emphasized the severity of the crimes, condemning the defendants for treating the young victim as an object to satisfy their sordid desires, and remarked that the victim’s life had been marred ever since.

Following the sentencing, Poole Detective Constable Andy Shah commented on the case, revealing that the offences came to light after the victim confided in his prison chaplain, who advised him to report the matter to the police. Shah expressed hope that the prison sentence would serve as a turning point for the victim, allowing him to begin the process of recovery and moving forward from the trauma inflicted upon him.