PATRICK RYAN OF PLUMSTEAD AND BLACKHEATH SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR HISTORIC CHILD RAPE CASES

In a harrowing case that spanned decades, Patrick Ryan, a 64-year-old man from Ancona Road, Plumstead, was finally brought to justice for his long-standing history of sexual abuse against two young sisters in the Blackheath area during the 1970s. The victims, who were only seven and nine years old when the abuse began, courageously came forward nearly 40 years later to recount their traumatic experiences, which had haunted them for most of their lives.

Ryan’s crimes took place at his flat on Coleraine Road, where he subjected the two girls to repeated acts of violence and sexual assault over a period of several years, starting in 1973. The abuse was particularly brutal, with one of the victims being assaulted with a screwdriver, an act that underscored the severity of Ryan’s predatory behavior. The victims’ bravery in speaking out after such a long silence was praised by police and the court, recognizing their strength in seeking justice after enduring such horrific trauma.

On April 30, at Woolwich Crown Court, a jury found Ryan guilty of four counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, and seven counts of indecent assault. The court heard how Ryan’s actions had a devastating impact on the victims’ lives, with the judge, Judge Tomlinson, acknowledging the emotional toll of the crimes. In his sentencing remarks, the judge stated, “Each of these victims had to relive those experiences by giving evidence. Their statements make grim reading. The impact of these offences has seriously undermined their ability to form meaningful relationships. They have turned their lives around and for that they should be congratulated.”

During the proceedings, the court was tense, and as the sentencing concluded, two women in the public gallery shouted aggressively at one of the victims, forcing her to be escorted out of the courtroom through a different exit. The court also heard that both victims had struggled with the aftermath of the abuse, with one turning to alcohol to cope and another spending time in a mental health hospital. Prosecutor Alexander Williams described the victim’s ordeal, stating, “When she [the younger sister] was a child, she recalls crying all the time and being afraid of everybody. It took all the strength that she had to come to court and has been a most harrowing experience. She still feels very angry about the offending behaviour but happily is feeling much stronger and can look to the future.”

Ryan’s defense attorney, Andrew Collings, attempted to portray him as a man who had led an “industrious, hardworking” life since the abuse, providing for his family and caring for his wife, who suffers from cancer. Despite these claims, Ryan was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and as he was led away, a woman in the gallery shouted, “I love you dad.”

Earlier, in April 2013, Ryan was convicted of similar offenses related to the same period, when he was living in Coleraine Road, Blackheath. The jury found him guilty of four counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, and seven counts of indecent assault, after the victims, who were children at the time, bravely came forward to police in late 2011. Detective Constable Joanne Crockford, who led the investigation, praised the victims’ courage, saying, “The victims were only seven and nine when they were subjected to numerous violent sexual assaults and rapes by Ryan. He took advantage of their age and extreme vulnerability and abused them for his own sexual gratification. The victims should be commended for coming forward, even though these offences occurred some 40 years ago.”

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Thomas of the Met Police’s Sapphire command emphasized the trauma endured by the victims, stating, “The ordeal these two women went through as young children was horrific and traumatising. To come forward after so long must have taken extreme courage, and their determination to see justice has resulted in Ryan’s conviction. Ryan is a convicted paedophile who will now be monitored for the rest of his life as a registered sex offender.”

Ryan, who denied all charges, is scheduled to be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on May 31, with the long-awaited justice finally being served for the victims who endured unimaginable suffering in the shadows of Blackheath and Plumstead.