Shropshire pensioner jailed for historic child sex offences

Ronald Kennedy-Bright, 75, of Orchard Lane, Hanwood, near Shrewsbury, was due to face a total of seven charges relating to offences dating back to 1971.

However, on the day of his trial, he pleaded guilty to a count of indecent assault, and two counts of gross indecency.

Judge Anthony Lowe took into account factors such as Kennedy-Bright’s age, and his physical and mental ill health, but jailed him for 10 months.

Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, told the court how Kennedy-Bright had invited a boy under the age of 14 to his parents’ cottage.

It was there that incidents of indecent assault and gross indecency took place.

Kennedy-Bright admitted to touching the boy, and was sentenced for three offences.

Debra White, defending, told the court how Kennedy-Bright had given frank admissions in a pre-sentence report to the offences he admitted.

Interest

Kennedy-Bright told the probation service that he used to have an interest in young boys, and he didn’t know why he had those urges but that they were long gone.

Miss White also said that her client had shown remorse, and said how he had suffered various experiences at the hands of three people when he was younger.

She said that was not an excuse for his behaviour, and that he had gone on to join the armed services.

Miss White also laid out her client’s physical and mental health, which included back problems, depression and PTSD, and said at one stage he was having suicidal thoughts.

She added that his wife was sticking with him, and said the probation service had recommended a community order as he was at a medium risk of re-offending.

Judge Lowe said he was minded not to put a community order in place, as the defendant had for a long time not had urges to abuse young boys.

Instead, he handed him a ten-month prison sentence in place, of which Kennedy-Bright will serve half in custody and half on licence.