2003: TWO JAILED FOR RAPE
At Worcester Crown Court, two men who assaulted a girl during the 1980s when her parents were away at bingo received a combined imprisonment of 13 years.Meanwhile, a third man involved in the abuse was spared jail after the judge characterized him as "a child" during the incidents.
David Osborne, aged 35 from Vernon Williams Close in Hereford, was convicted by a jury at Hereford Crown Court last month of four counts of rape.
Mark Taylor, 36, from Oak Crescent in Clehonger, was found guilty of three rapes, and Andrew Osborne, 31, also of Oak Crescent, was convicted of two indecent assaults.
Judge Michael Mott sentenced Osborne to eight years, describing his offenses against a victim aged between 11 and 15 as "truly terrible." Taylor received a five-year term, with the judge stating he had succumbed to his urges.
Andrew Osborne was given a two-year community order and admitted harassing his former fiancée.
The court was told that all three defendants had limited intellectual capacity; however, the judge noted they could have stopped themselves.
The crimes occurred in Hereford between 1984 and 1988.
It was revealed that David Osborne had arranged for Taylor to have sex with the girl in exchange for money, much of which went to Osborne.
The girl, now in her twenties, became pregnant and has a teenage son.
She described to police how the actions of the trio ruined her childhood and her life.
Prosecutor Sarah Buckingham reported that Andrew Osborne, David’s brother, was cleared of two rapes and two other sexual charges.
In 2001, Andrew Osborne served 30 months for arson at his ex-fiancee’s home, and upon release, he repeatedly contacted her seeking to win her back.
Defense lawyer Nicolas Cartwright stated that David Osborne was between 16 and 19 at the time and had a low IQ.
He has since been married for 16 years and has two children.
Mr.
Cartwright argued that Osborne displayed genuine remorse and posed a low future risk.
Neil Montaldo, representing Taylor, highlighted that he had lived his entire life in Hereford, living with his mother, and that imprisonment would be severely detrimental.
Martin Butterworth, defending Andrew Osborne, noted he was under 14 during the offenses, suffered from anxiety and depression, and was receiving treatment before the arson.
All three individuals will now be required to register as sex offenders with law enforcement authorities.
