A father and son subjected two young girls to a catalogue of horrifying abuse.
Terrence and Lee Brown sexually assaulted and raped the same victims over the course of several years. But they were apparently unaware of one another’s heinous crimes.
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court, prosecuted by Frances Willmott, heard that Terrence Brown abused the two girls over the course of several years when they were aged as young as nine and 10. This included sexually assaulting them over their clothing and instructing them to inappropriately touch and perform sex acts on him.
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The 60-year-old – of Freshwater Close in Great Sankey, Warrington – also plied them with alcohol on occasions and showed one cartoon pornographic images on his mobile phone. In a statement read out to the court on her behalf, one of the complainants described how she has been left “feeling numb” and suffered from flashbacks as a result of his actions.
Michael Whitty, appearing for the prosecution during Brown’s sentencing hearing on Friday, said: “The defendant is not the only person to offend against them. The defendant’s son is serving a sentence separately for offences he committed against them.”
The same court heard in May that now 21-year-old Lee Brown, also of Freshwater Close, was aged 15 when he “groomed and exploited” the two girls, who were only eight and 10. Olivia Beesley, prosecuting, described how he subjected them to a campaign of “systematic, persistent and regular” abuse.
The ECHO previously reported that the pervert would instruct both to perform sex acts upon him, “begging” them to do so on occasions. During one incident in the run-up to Christmas, Brown told one of the girls “that if she did not do what he wanted then Father Christmas would not appear”.
Carmel Wilde, defending Terrence Brown, told the court yesterday: “He is a man of 60 now, a man who has worked all his life as an electrician. It is certainly not how he thought he would be spending his retirement, at her majesty’s pleasure.”
His counsel added that his wife is in poor health, saying: “It is regrettable for him, but it is a punishment he has to deal with. It is possible that the last time he will see her is today.
“Clearly, the defendant is still in denial. It is going to be a long journey for him in coming to terms with his offending.”
Brown was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, three of engaging in sexual activity with a child, four charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child by a jury after a trial. He appeared to be crying and shaking his head in the dock as he was jailed for six-and-a-half years.
Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told the “predator” that he had further subjected his victims to “coming to court to be cross-examined and branded liars”. He said: “Your offending concerned the repeated abuse of both of these victims.
“You are not the only person who has sexually abused these girls. There is clearly consequential harm.
“You continue to maintain your innocence and you deny that you have any sexual interest in young girls. You are considered a high risk of serious harm to female children of a young age.”
Brown – who has no previous convictions – was also handed a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order, both to run indefinitely. He will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
Lee Brown admitted two counts of rape, two charges of sexual assault, two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was locked up for four years and four months earlier this year.
Cheshire Police said that the investigation initially focussed on Terrence Brown after his victims came forward in September 2021. But they then “disclosed that Lee had also sexually assaulted them during the course of the investigation”, with the dad and son said not to have been “aware of each other’s crimes”.
Detective Constable Irene Cadman, who led the investigation into Lee Brown, said following Friday’s sentencing: “This is a horrific situation in which two young girls were subjected to horrendous abuse on separate occasions by a father and son. I would like to recognise the bravery of the victims who, in the case of Terrence, were put through the stress of a trial after he failed to show accountability for his actions.
“Now, both Lee and Terrence are facing time behind bars. I hope the conclusion of this case helps bring some closure for the victims.”
Detective Constable Cameron Mackay, who headed up the probe into Terrence Brown’s offending, added: “I welcome the sentences handed to Lee and Terrence, which are reflective of their actions against the victims. Again, I would like to recognise the bravery that the victims have shown and I hope that this case encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward.
“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously. We will always do our best to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”
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