REGINALD MULLIS FROM COVINGHAM JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN BRISTOL COURT

In August 2022, a pensioner from Covingham was sentenced to prison after being convicted of sexually abusing three young girls during the 1970s. The case, which has spanned several decades, brought to light the long-lasting impact of his actions on the victims, who are now adults but continue to suffer from the trauma inflicted upon them.

Reginald Mullis, now 83 years old, faced charges related to the abuse that occurred many years ago. Despite denying the allegations during the trial, Mullis’s character was scrutinized as the court heard from the victims, whose statements painted a disturbing picture of the abuse and its enduring effects. The court proceedings took place at Bristol Crown Court, where Mullis was brought back for sentencing on July 29.

Judge Euan Ambrose, presiding over the case, referenced the victim impact statements during his sentencing remarks. He emphasized the profound and lasting influence Mullis’s actions had on the victims’ lives, stating, “Those statements speak of the long shadow your offending has cast over their lives.” The judge highlighted that the effects described by the victims are unfortunately common in cases of this nature, noting that the abuse significantly damaged their ability to trust others, including their own children and grandchildren.

Judge Ambrose further explained that the victims experienced additional distress due to the trial process itself. He acknowledged the temptation to consider these incidents as distant history but underscored that the harm caused continues to resonate with the victims today. “When one reads the victim personal statements and sees how your behaviour has affected your victims over the years, the effects continue. So these are not historical footnotes, they are offences that have had a lasting effect,” he stated.

In terms of sentencing, Mullis was handed a total of two years and ten months in prison. The sentence was composed of an 18-month term for one count of abuse, a six-month concurrent sentence for a second count committed around the same time, and a 16-month consecutive sentence for a third count committed at a later date. The court also ordered Mullis to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Mullis, who resides on Passmore Close in Covingham, faced a total of 11 charges. The jury at Bristol Crown Court found him not guilty of eight charges but convicted him on three counts of indecent assault. The sentencing marked a significant moment in the ongoing effort to address historic child abuse cases and provide some measure of justice for the victims involved.