Dirk Weissenbruch

Dirk Weissenbruch, a 61-year-old man from Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, has been imprisoned for 24 years following his conviction for serious sexual offences. The sentencing took place at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday, 15 September 2023, where Weissenbruch was found guilty on five counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, two counts of rape of a woman over the age of 16, and one count of indecent assault on a woman over the age of 16.

The court heard details of Weissenbruch's prolonged and violent abuse, which caused significant trauma to his victims over many years. Described as an intimidating individual who was physically violent and emotionally abusive, Weissenbruch's actions were characterised as those of a paedophile who targeted vulnerable individuals. His decision to contest the charges at trial only compounded the pain endured by the victims, who demonstrated remarkable bravery in coming forward to seek justice.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Weissenbruch was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely under the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The case was investigated by Wiltshire Police, with Detective Constable Laura Barwood commenting after the hearing: 'Weissenbruch was an intimidating man who was physically violent and emotionally abusive towards his victims. The abuse has caused them a huge amount of trauma for many, many years and he has continued to put them through pain by taking this case to trial. I want to thank his victims who have been incredibly brave and courageous at seeking justice for Weissenbruch’s crimes.' This conviction underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to hold perpetrators of child sex offences and sexual assaults accountable.

The offences, which involved the sexual exploitation and abuse of a young girl and adult women, highlight the devastating long-term impact of such crimes. Sources from the court proceedings and Wiltshire Police reports confirm the severity of the charges and the appropriateness of the substantial prison term imposed.