Gary Oakes, a 69-year-old Bewdley Paedophile has received a 12-year sentence for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 and violating a sexual harm prevention order.
Gary Oakes, residing on Trimpley Lane in Bewdley, received his sentence at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, 13 September 2024.
The sentence follows a trial where Gary Oakes was found guilty of the following offences:
- 8 x counts of sexual assault of a female child under 13
- 2 x counts of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity – no penetration
- 1 x breach of a sexual harm prevention order
Gary Oakes abused his victim over three years, from August 2015 to August 2018.
Detective Sergeant Phil Wood, who worked on the investigation, said: “Gary Oakes subjected his young victim to a sustained campaign of abuse which caused her immense and long-lasting trauma and distress. I’m pleased that he has been handed a significant custodial sentence, meaning he’s unable to cause harm to other young people.
“I can’t begin to imagine what the victim has been through, and I commend her courage in coming forward to report Gary Oakes’ abuse. I don’t doubt the strength this took; her resilience during the trial has been immeasurable.
“I hope this case demonstrates that we take all reports of sexual assault incredibly seriously and won’t hesitate to investigate and bring offenders to justice.”
If you’ve been affected by sexual assault, then local support is available from the Victim Advice Line. The Victim Advice Line is a free and confidential service offering advice, practical help and emotional support to people affected by crime, regardless of how long it happened or whether it was reported to the police. Support is available by telephone at 0800 9523000, via email at info@victimadviceline.org.uk and live chat at victimadviceline.org.uk.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.