A 41-year-old man from Burnley has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment at Chester Crown Court after being convicted of sexually assaulting a woman inside a pub in Malpas.
Gary Taylor, of Belvedere Road, Burnley, appeared for sentence on Thursday 15 October 2026 following an investigation conducted by Cheshire Police.
The prosecution outlined that the attack occurred on the evening of Thursday 18 January 2024 at a licensed premises located on Old Hall Street, Malpas. The victim, a woman in her 20s, was socialising in the bar when Taylor approached her unprompted and began making inappropriate sexual comments.
The woman subsequently left the bar area to access the accommodation section of the premises. Taylor pursued her away from the public areas and cornered her inside a bathroom, where he subjected her to an assault by penetration.
The victim managed to break free from Taylor’s physical hold, exit the bathroom, and seek assistance.
Detectives from Cheshire Police identified Taylor as the perpetrator and arrested him at his home address in Burnley on 20 January 2024, two days after the incident.
Taylor pleaded not guilty to the charge, requiring the survivor to give evidence during a contested trial at Chester Crown Court. On Thursday 16 July 2026, the jury dismissed his defence and returned a guilty verdict for assault by penetration.
Passing sentence on 15 October 2026, the Crown Court judge handed Taylor an immediate custodial term of seven years’ imprisonment. To ensure the future safeguarding of the complainant, the court also imposed a 10-year restraining order preventing Taylor from making any contact with the victim and directed that he comply with lifetime notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register.
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all victims and complainants connected to sexual offence proceedings are protected by automatic, lifelong statutory anonymity. Publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any details, names, addresses, or photographs capable of leading to public identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Taylor stood convicted of:
Assault by penetration
Sentencing outcome and statutory measures:
Seven years’ immediate custody
10-year restraining order protecting the victim
Mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Strict post-custodial statutory licence supervision conditions enforceable upon release from custody
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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