JAILED: Men who sexually abused boy over 2 years and filmed crimes

Neil William Gamble and partner David George Bradbury, both of Pigot Street, Newtown, St Helens were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court via video link from custody.

They had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to four charges of rape and multiple charges of sexual assault and of taking indecent images.

The abuse came to light after police executed a search warrant at the defendants' address on September 25, 2020 after an indecent image, which was not of the boy they abused, had been posted on social media.

Officers found an electronic device which had footage of the abuse on it.

Judge Rachel Smith said both men had shown a "significant degree of planning" and that she was sure the abuse "would have continued" had their crimes not been uncovered.

Gamble, 65, committed most of the physical abuse on the boy while his partner Bradbury videoed the "appalling" assaults.

At a previous hearing, John Williams, prosecuting, said the abuse was a case of "classic grooming" and took place for almost two years from October 2018 starting when the boy was aged six.

Neil Gamble committed most of the physical abuse

Mr Williams said: "Examination of a device belonging to Bradbury showed pictures of appalling sexual abuse.

"He (the boy) was allowed to visit the defendants' home. It is clear from the examination of Bradbury's iPad that they had filmed the abuse, acted as a team on an equal footing with Gamble committing the sexual acts and Bradbury filming and encouraging Gamble.

"He was six when the abuse started, the abuse carried on for some two years."

The court heard that Bradbury, 55, was also involved in physical abuse in one of the videos.

Mr Williams said the filming of the abuse by the men was "no doubt for their own sexual gratification".

He described the abuse was a "classic grooming situation", adding: "What is clear is that both defendants were using things like toys and sweets and playing children's programmes to the boy in order to make him feel comfortable."

Defending Gamble, James Smith, said he is "significantly intellectually compromised" but said there was "an evolving cognizance" over the "impact of the acts".

Defending Bradbury, Paul Becker said his client is "emotionally fragile" and "has a history of anxiety and depression".

David Bradbury

During the sentencing hearing held today, Thursday, March 11, a statement from the victim's father was read by Judge Rachel Smith, which read: "I worry about the time he will be old enough to realise what happened to him.

"I dread this and no doubt he will need counselling in the future for the trauma which he is yet to disclose."

Passing sentence, Judge Smith said to Gamble and Bradbury: "Each of you accepts that yours was an equal partnership, it was clear that both of you knew what you were doing was wholly wrong."

She added that both men had shown a "significant degree of planning" and had "both groomed this child" and "images were recorded and retained by you both".

Judge Smith added both men "exploited" the "vulnerabilities" of the boy's mother which is a "serious aggravating feature of this case": "You exploited them to exploit her son.

"I don't regard either of you as playing a lesser role than the other. You were an equal partnership. Working together and recorded them for your own sexual gratification.

"The offending continued for years and I am sure it would have continued".

She said that while there may be some missing awareness of the impact on your victim, she considered "mitigation to be limited" and described their offending as a "campaign of rape".

The judge added they worked in a "joint enterprise" and "they conspired to abuse a child as a couple".

She said Bradbury, who has a previous conviction dated back to 1995 for indecent exposure, "prioritised his own wants and needs over the wellbeing of the victim".

Judge Smith said that if they had been convicted after a trial the sentence would have been 24 years. It was reduced by a third due to their guilty pleas.

Gamble and Bradbury were given four 16-year sentences; two eight-year sentences and eight four-year sentences all to be served concurrently.

They must serve two-thirds of the 16-year period in custody before they can considered for parole and will have an additional one year of extended licence added to the sentence.

Gamble and Bradbury will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed for an indefinite period.