Bradford man branded a 'danger to children' is jailed

Brian Symonds, 67, was found guilty of grooming two children and indecently assaulting them.

Sentencing Symonds to 16 years' imprisonment plus a further year on licence, Mr Recorder Gurdial Singh said: “Your abuse had a devastating effect on them.”

It emerged during Symonds’ five-day trial that he had previous convictions for sexually assaulting children as young as five dating as far back as 1979.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Symonds’ more recent crimes came to light when one of the victims, now an adult, made a complaint in 2019.

In a statement read to the court, one of the victims said they had endured “a life sentence” and had suffered with deep shame and had even blamed themself for Symonds’ abuse.

The victim said the abuse still caused emotional pain and they suppressed the traumatic memories and knowledge of what had happened until suffering from anxiety and depression.

Symonds was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

“I am still trying to figure out what ‘normal’ is," the victim said.

Symonds, of Whitaker Avenue, Bradford, is now a registered sex offender for life and has been made the subject of a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.

He will serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being referred to the parole board and will serve the remainder on conditional licence.

Addressing the victims, who were in court, Recorder Singh said: “Thank you both for having the courage to come forward and for giving evidence.

“I appreciate that no sentence can give you back what you have lost.”

Bearded Symonds, dressed in a blue jacket, shirt, and tie, did not speak as he was led down to the cells wheeling a large bag.

'It has completely ruined my life'

Speaking after the sentencing the two victims spoke exclusively to the T&A.

One praised the “exemplary” work of the detective who led the case but expressed frustration that it had taken more than four years to reach a conclusion.

“At the end of the trial I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was all those mixed emotions," said one of Symonds' victims.

“I do believe that he should have got a life sentence and not the sentence he has been given.”

The other victim, who has recently begun counselling, agreed that the sentence “should have been longer”.

They added: “I still suffer on a daily basis with how this has affected me. It has completely ruined my life.

“I am happy that he has been put away. I understand that that is a positive.”

A mother at the heart of the case said Symonds could not bring himself to apologise for what he did.

She said: “He pleaded not guilty. He knew what he did but he must have thought it was acceptable.

“People like him don’t offer remorse.

“I hope he dies in prison.”

'He is a danger to children'

Detective Constable Sam Dunn of Bradford’s Safeguarding Team said: “Symonds took to the stand in court and showed no remorse or guilt, denying that he’d done anything wrong.

“We welcome today’s significant sentence. This shows how abhorrent his offending was. He is a danger to children.

“I would like to commend the victims and the bravery they showed in coming forward to report these crimes after so many years.

“They had to relive the ordeal throughout the trial, and I praise them for the dignity they showed throughout the court process.

“I hope today’s sentence will give any victims of sexual assault the confidence to report it to us.

“We take all reports seriously and have a dedicated specialist safeguarding team who will support victims throughout the investigation.”