A MAN has been found guilty of a series of sexual offences against a child 30 years ago in Worcestershire when his victim was aged between three and nine years old.
Andrew Bleasdale, 52, was first interviewed under caution in December 2018 and was subsequently charged with 14 offences of rape and sexual assault on a child under 13 years.
Bleasdale, of Claydon Path, Aylesbury denied all charges but after a trial lasting eight days a jury at Worcester Crown Court found him guilty of 10 counts which included oral rape, indecency with a child and indecent assault.
He will be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on March 17.
His victim spoke out after the trial and while the abuse had had a ‘devastating’ impact on her life, she said she had never let the ‘horrific’ things inflicted upon her define her life.
“I often think that if people could see the emotional scars I carry they would recoil from me in horror,” she said.
“I have had to disclose my disgusting and vile secrets with strangers, people I would never want to know the tremendous shame I have carried within me for so long.
“I have put my faith into the hands of the police and justice system and finding the strength to do so has been incredibly hard.
“So much has been out of my control and the feeling of being powerless has taken me back to my childhood where my innocence was taken from me in the worst possible way.
“Allowing our family to finally air our secret in public has freed us. As a family we are fractured, we are bruised and we are sore. But we are not broken.
“We’re now able to talk about this together more openly and we can now begin a healing process, something we have needed to do for so many years.”
DC Shelley Aplin, who led the investigation, said: “It is often hard for victims to come forward but when they pluck up the courage to do I can assure them they will be believed and we will make sure they have the right support as the case progresses.
“I would like to pay tribute to this victim for her bravery in coming forward and hope that the outcome of the trial will allow her to get on with the rest of her life.”
Victims of sexual assault who feel they need support can contact the West Mercia’s Advice Line, a free, independent and confidential support service.
Call 0800 952 3000 or visit www.victimadviceline.org.uk for more.
