TREVOR GLEESON FROM BEBINGTON SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN WIRRAL

In December 2020, a series of heinous crimes committed by Trevor Gleeson, a man residing in Bebington, came to light through a harrowing court case that revealed the full extent of his brutal actions against his own family members. Gleeson, aged 39, subjected his wife, Emma Gleeson, and his teenage stepdaughter, Gina Gleeson, to a pattern of unimaginable abuse within the confines of their family home in Wirral.

Emma, 38, and Gina, 17, chose to waive their rights to anonymity, aiming to shed light on the severity of Gleeson's crimes and ensure that their voices were heard. The Liverpool Crown Court heard detailed accounts of Gleeson's violent and controlling behavior, which spanned over several years and included some of the most disturbing acts imaginable.

One of the most shocking incidents occurred on Valentine’s Day, when Gleeson raped his wife Emma and forced her to perform a sexual act against her will. Witnesses reported that Gleeson was heard by his son to say, “I’ll rape you properly next time,” indicating a pattern of ongoing sexual violence. Emma was also coerced into having four abortions, with Gleeson threatening to expel the unborn children unless she complied with his demands. His violence extended beyond sexual assault; he was seen by his son to slap Emma, throw food on the floor, and cruelly tell her to eat it like a dog, further demonstrating his pattern of emotional and physical abuse.

Gleeson’s predatory behavior extended to his stepdaughter, Gina, whom he would enter her bedroom multiple times a week between the ages of 14 and 16 to sexually assault her while she was asleep. During these assaults, Gleeson also took photographs and videos of Gina, which left her feeling terrified and compelled to pretend to be asleep to avoid detection. Gina’s distress was compounded by the fact that Gleeson documented these acts, and she felt helpless and frightened during the ordeal.

The abuse was uncovered after Gina confided in her mother about the assaults on November 20 of the previous year. Emma and Gina then gathered the courage to report the abuse to the police. Gleeson was arrested the following evening as he was leaving his workplace. During police interviews, Gleeson admitted to some of the allegations, including apologizing for the rape and claiming he did not remember the incident. He also confessed to filming himself touching Gina’s bottom and taking photographs of her while she slept, though he claimed these acts were not motivated by sexual arousal.

Prosecutor Robert Dudley outlined Gleeson’s admissions, noting that Gleeson expressed disgust with himself and admitted to one sexual assault on Gina, as well as taking an indecent photo of her. However, Gleeson denied other allegations, which led to both Emma and Gina, along with Gleeson’s 16-year-old son Marley, giving evidence in a difficult and emotional trial.

Following the evidence, the court found Gleeson guilty of multiple charges, including rape, assault causing actual bodily harm, controlling or coercive behavior, and eight counts of sexual assault against Gina. The court was told that Gleeson had been in a relationship with Emma for 17 years, beginning when Gina was just a baby, and that Marley was born 15 months later. Emma expressed her regret for staying with Gleeson, describing him as a monster, but also revealed her fear of leaving him, as he had threatened to kill her if she tried to end the relationship.

Judge Garrett Byrne delivered a stern sentence, criticizing Gleeson for his failure as a husband and father. The judge emphasized that Gleeson should have provided a safe, loving, and supportive environment for his family but instead chose to exert control through violence and intimidation. The judge described how Gleeson systematically eroded Emma’s confidence, leaving her a broken woman, and noted her bravery in finally summoning the courage to leave him.

Details of Gleeson’s violent history were also discussed, including an incident in 2008 when Emma attempted to escape from him by running upstairs, only to be grabbed by the face and throat, resulting in bruising. The court further heard about a four-year period of controlling and coercive behavior from December 2015 to November 2019, during which Gleeson assaulted Emma multiple times—hitting her, kicking her, holding knives to her throat, and inflicting various injuries. His controlling tactics included placing a camera on top of a wardrobe to monitor Emma, restricting her movements, and demanding photographs and messages from her.

Regarding the sexual abuse of Gina, the judge condemned Gleeson’s conduct as cynical and driven solely by his sexual desires. Gleeson’s denial and lack of remorse during the trial were noted, with the court highlighting the profound and lasting impact on his victims. Emma was left suffering from flashbacks, nightmares, and suicidal thoughts, while Gina experienced panic attacks, self-harm, depression, and social isolation, culminating in a suicide attempt in September of that year.

Gleeson was sentenced to 13 years in prison and was told he would serve two-thirds of that sentence behind bars. He appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool, showing no emotion as he was sentenced, but later questioned the prison officer with, “Do you know what that means?” His sentence, minus time served on remand, leaves him with approximately seven years and eight months remaining. Additionally, Gleeson is required to register as a sex offender for life and must adhere to an indefinite restraining order that prevents him from contacting Emma or Gina, ensuring they are protected from further harm.