RICHARD JEARY OF WEST DRAYTON SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR DECADES OF CHILD SEX ABUSE

In a significant case that has spanned decades, Richard Jeary, a 60-year-old man from Whitethorn Avenue in West Drayton, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young girls. The sentencing took place at Harrow Crown Court on a recent Friday, following his conviction in August of this year.

Jeary’s criminal activities, which included a disturbing campaign of abuse stretching from the early 1970s through the early 1980s, involved at least four young girls. The jury found him guilty of a total of 13 charges, which encompassed eight counts of rape, two counts of gross indecency, and three counts of sexual assault. All of these offenses involved victims under the age of 16, highlighting the severity and depravity of his actions.

The crimes were committed over a period of more than a decade, during which Jeary repeatedly exploited his position of trust. It was reported that between 1971 and 1982, he systematically raped and sexually abused four girls aged between seven and twelve, all while they were in his care. On several occasions, he took two of these girls in his car to fast food restaurants, and on the journey back, he would commit further acts of sexual violence in the back of his vehicle.

One of the victims, who chose to remain anonymous, came forward to the Gazette to share her perspective on the ordeal and her reasons for reporting the crimes. She revealed that her decision to speak out was driven by her fears that Jeary might re-offend, especially after she learned he was in the company of young children. Her statement expressed a mixture of relief and frustration, as she recounted the emotional toll of her experiences.

"I decided to report the crime all those years later because I heard he was in the company of young children and I didn’t want the same thing happen to them as it happened to me," she explained. She also described her feelings of shame and guilt, which she said are common among victims of sexual abuse, and emphasized her courage in coming forward. "I needed to find the courage within myself to report it and that’s what I did in November 2007," she added.

Her testimony and the evidence presented in court ultimately led to Jeary’s conviction. She expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "I am extremely happy with the result; it was well worth the wait." She also expressed gratitude for the support she received from her family, friends, and the authorities, particularly praising the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their efforts in bringing Jeary to justice. "The sentence is fantastic and we are absolutely over the moon. We hope that finally we can draw a line under it," she concluded.

The case has shed light on the long-standing abuse that went unpunished for many years, with the initial report made to police in 1985 by one of the victims. Unfortunately, at that time, insufficient evidence prevented any action from being taken. It was only after renewed investigations and the courage of the victims that justice was finally served, ensuring that Richard Jeary will spend a significant period behind bars for his crimes.