LEE O’REILLY FROM KINGSWINFORD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS IN WARWICKSHIRE AND NUNEATON
| Red Rose Database
Kingswinford Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the local communities, Lee O’Reilly, a 56-year-old man from Kingswinford, was convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed against two young girls during the early 2000s. The proceedings took place at Warwick Crown Court, where a jury deliberated extensively over three days, totaling more than 11 hours of deliberation before reaching a unanimous verdict on all charges.
O’Reilly, who resided at the Hinksford Mobile Home Park near Kingswinford at the time of his arrest, faced a total of 13 charges of indecent assault. These charges were divided between two victims: nine counts involving one girl and four counts involving the other. The defendant had entered a plea of not guilty to all charges, denying any wrongdoing. However, the jury found him guilty of all 13 counts, a decision that led to his immediate sentencing.
The prosecution, led by Peter Cooper, emphasized the disturbing nature of the allegations. He stated to the court, “There is very little issue that the conduct alleged would be indecent assaults, the issue is whether these things happened at all. The defendant says they did not.”
Mr. Cooper provided context about the victims, who are now in their late 20s. The incidents reportedly occurred several years ago, with one girl being around 12 or 13 years old at the time, and the other approximately nine or ten. During the period of the offenses, O’Reilly was living in Nuneaton and working as a butcher in that town.
According to the evidence presented, the grooming process appeared to be gradual, with O’Reilly allegedly escalating his inappropriate behavior over time. Mr. Cooper described it as “a process of grooming, getting her used to one form of touching and then moving on to something different.” The victims attempted to seek help early on; one girl even left a note for O’Reilly in the middle of some flyers at his shop, trying to alert him to her discomfort. However, she did not disclose the abuse to authorities until years later, after her friend, the other victim, had come forward.
The second girl confided in a cousin at the time, revealing that O’Reilly had touched her when she was about 10 years old. It was not until 2015 that the victims decided to report the incidents to the police, overwhelmed by the emotional toll of the abuse. Following the police investigation, the second victim also made a formal complaint against O’Reilly.
Throughout the trial, O’Reilly maintained his innocence, denying any of the allegations. He did admit, however, that there had been an occasion when one of the girls had complained about him touching her leg, but he insisted that no further misconduct occurred.
After the jury delivered its verdicts—four unanimous and nine by majorities of 10-2—the court considered the appropriate sentence. Prosecutor Peter Cooper pointed out that the maximum penalty at the time was ten years, though current legislation could potentially impose life sentences for similar offenses today.
In sentencing, Recorder Michael Burrows acknowledged O’Reilly’s otherwise unblemished life apart from these serious allegations. He stated, “I have to sentence you for 13 offences of indecent assault. Since then, apart from a caution for a very different matter, you have lived an unblemished life. But these are serious offences. I have to have regard to the degree of harm and culpability.”
He further explained that the maximum sentence for these offenses was ten years. Considering the circumstances and the trial, the judge initially considered a sentence of six-and-a-half years but, after mitigation, reduced it to five-and-a-half years in prison. O’Reilly was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and whereabouts.
O’Reilly, who resided at the Hinksford Mobile Home Park near Kingswinford at the time of his arrest, faced a total of 13 charges of indecent assault. These charges were divided between two victims: nine counts involving one girl and four counts involving the other. The defendant had entered a plea of not guilty to all charges, denying any wrongdoing. However, the jury found him guilty of all 13 counts, a decision that led to his immediate sentencing.
The prosecution, led by Peter Cooper, emphasized the disturbing nature of the allegations. He stated to the court, “There is very little issue that the conduct alleged would be indecent assaults, the issue is whether these things happened at all. The defendant says they did not.”
Mr. Cooper provided context about the victims, who are now in their late 20s. The incidents reportedly occurred several years ago, with one girl being around 12 or 13 years old at the time, and the other approximately nine or ten. During the period of the offenses, O’Reilly was living in Nuneaton and working as a butcher in that town.
According to the evidence presented, the grooming process appeared to be gradual, with O’Reilly allegedly escalating his inappropriate behavior over time. Mr. Cooper described it as “a process of grooming, getting her used to one form of touching and then moving on to something different.” The victims attempted to seek help early on; one girl even left a note for O’Reilly in the middle of some flyers at his shop, trying to alert him to her discomfort. However, she did not disclose the abuse to authorities until years later, after her friend, the other victim, had come forward.
The second girl confided in a cousin at the time, revealing that O’Reilly had touched her when she was about 10 years old. It was not until 2015 that the victims decided to report the incidents to the police, overwhelmed by the emotional toll of the abuse. Following the police investigation, the second victim also made a formal complaint against O’Reilly.
Throughout the trial, O’Reilly maintained his innocence, denying any of the allegations. He did admit, however, that there had been an occasion when one of the girls had complained about him touching her leg, but he insisted that no further misconduct occurred.
After the jury delivered its verdicts—four unanimous and nine by majorities of 10-2—the court considered the appropriate sentence. Prosecutor Peter Cooper pointed out that the maximum penalty at the time was ten years, though current legislation could potentially impose life sentences for similar offenses today.
In sentencing, Recorder Michael Burrows acknowledged O’Reilly’s otherwise unblemished life apart from these serious allegations. He stated, “I have to sentence you for 13 offences of indecent assault. Since then, apart from a caution for a very different matter, you have lived an unblemished life. But these are serious offences. I have to have regard to the degree of harm and culpability.”
He further explained that the maximum sentence for these offenses was ten years. Considering the circumstances and the trial, the judge initially considered a sentence of six-and-a-half years but, after mitigation, reduced it to five-and-a-half years in prison. O’Reilly was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and whereabouts.