In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Terrence Galligan, then 92, of Argyle Road, Newbury, Berkshire, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Reading Crown Court. Galligan, a “vile” and “vicious” predator, was convicted of a “serious” and “depraved” string of sexual offences spanning nearly five decades. The investigation by Thames Valley Police revealed that his “vicious” behaviour targeted two victims between 1971 and 2017, with offences committed across both Kent and Berkshire.
The court heard horrendous details of the abuse, which included buggery on a girl under 16, sexual assault of a child under 13, and indecency with a child under 14. Galligan was also reported to have “vilely” taken and made indecent photographs of children, possessing a “sickening” collection across categories A, B, and C. The prosecution emphasised that his “vicious” exploitation of children continued well into his nineties, demonstrating a “serious” and persistent risk to the public.
Following a nine-day trial, a jury found Galligan guilty by unanimous verdict of nine counts of child sexual offences. Despite his advanced age, the judge emphasised the “serious” nature of his “vile” and “depraved” crimes, which had a “vicious” and lifelong impact on his victims. The court reported that Galligan had been arrested in September 2017 and was “callously” hiding his “vicious” history until the police investigation brought his “vile” actions to light.
As a result of his convictions for sexual assault, buggery, and making indecent images, Terrence Galligan was jailed for 12 years and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Thames Valley Police, ensuring his behaviour in Newbury and elsewhere is strictly monitored. Any attempt to breach his strict notification requirements or engage in further “vile” behaviour will result in his continued incarceration.
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